I take my time in there, splashing cold water on my face again and again. I procrastinate my return by brushing my teeth twice and flossing for the first time in way too long. When I do finally emerge, Bastian is awake and moving around in the kitchen. The smell of ginger tea hits me before I’ve even crossed the threshold.
I incline my head. “Morning.”
That’s about the full extent of our conversation. I take my mug with a mumbled thanks and go sit at the dining room table with my back to the kitchen. But part of me remains keenly tuned in to every single breath Bastian takes in there.
Yasmin emerges from her bedroom a few minutes later. “G’morning, my lovely— Oh.” I can hear the grin that spreads across her face as she clocks the tension in the room immediately. She drops her voice to a
