BRIANNA

Adrian led me up the short steps to the main door, his hand resting warmly against the small of my back, grounding me with a quiet sense of comfort. The heat of his touch somehow calmed the flurry of nerves I’d been feeling. When he reached out to ring the doorbell, I took a deep breath and let the peacefulness settle over me, as if all my worries were on pause for just a moment. Moments later, the door swung open, and Stella appeared, her eyes lighting up as she took in the sight ...