Page 32 of Hearts & Embers

The shoulder injury prevented me from driving, so Cody had agreed to transport me with entirely too much enthusiasm. After spending the short journey across town pretending he wasn't interested in my evening, he finally dropped me outside Aurora's building and drove away before I could threaten him about saying anything to our work colleagues.

Aurora answered the door almost immediately.

The smile that appeared when she saw me made the entire evening feel worthwhile before it had even begun. She stepped aside to let me enter, and I found myself taking in the apartment for the first time. The space reflected her in much the same way a person's books often did. Everything felt organised without appearing rigid, comfortable without sacrificing practicality, and welcoming without trying too hard. The aroma drifting from the kitchen immediately drew my attention.

"Something smells incredible."

She smiled.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

I glanced around.

"No Elyssa?"

Amusement appeared in Aurora's eyes.

"Elyssa informed me she had plans for the evening."

"Real plans?"

"Not remotely."

A laugh escaped me.

"How generous of her."

"She's very invested in other people's lives so I’ll get the twenty questions, or in her case one hundred and twenty questions, later."

"That sounds familiar."

Aurora pointed toward the dining table.

"Come and sit down before dinner gets cold."

Dinner exceeded every expectation. Aurora possessed considerably more talent in the kitchen than she admitted to, and the conversation flowed as easily as it always did.

We discussed books, school, Firehouse 99, and a dozen unrelated subjects while the evening gradually unfolded around us. At some point I realized nearly three hours had passed without either of us noticing. The comfort between us no longer surprised me. If anything, it felt increasingly natural each time we were together.

Eventually the conversation drifted toward relationships. The transition happened gradually enough that neither of us seemed particularly aware of it until we were already discussing subjects that were far more personal than anything we'd shared before. Aurora swirled the wine in her glass for a moment before speaking.

"I've dated in the past in case you were wondering."

I looked toward her.

"Past tense?"

A small smile appeared.

"That's because it belongs in the past."

I waited.

"There were a few relationships over the years. Nothing terrible happened. Nobody cheated. Nobody broke my heart. Most of them simply reached a point where I realised I wasn't as invested as my partner at the time."

"That sounds unusually civilized."

"I know."