Chapter64: The Festival on the Birthday

*Roxy* The stars are scattered like glitter across the sky, and the night is crisp; I tug my cloak closer around me. Leo walks beside me, just close enough that our arms brush now and then. Dinner was lovely and full of laughter. I didn’t expect to feel so comfortable with him, or anyone, this soon. I don’t want the evening to end. When we reach Hanna and Marek’s porch, I wonder why Leo doesn’t ask me to stay with him, and as though reading my thoughts, he breaks the silence. “You could, uh… stay with me, but—my pack, they’d probably make a bigger deal out of it than it is,” he says, scratching the back of his head, clearly flustered. “I just mean—they’d gossip. About a woman sleeping over. At my place. Which has… never actually happened before.” He looks so awkward I can’t help but smile. It’s honestly kind of adorable. Just then, the door clicks open. Marek must’ve heard us coming. He opens it, nodding at both of us. “Evening,” he says. Then he adds, “Come in for coffee?” I glance at