HThe silence that followed Anya's innocent question was so profound that Elena could hear the hum of the refrigerator. Carl looked down at his shirt, his cheeks flushing a shade of crimson that clashed spectacularly with his disheveled hair. Valerie closed her eyes for a brief second, as if praying for the floor to swallow her whole.
Dominic was the first to break, a low, rumbling chuckle escaping him. He leaned forward, elbows on the table, his eyes sparkling with unrepentant amusement. "Yes, Carl. Why *is* your shirt inside out? A new fashion trend from the 'traffic' you were stuck in?"
Carl fumbled, his fingers grappling with the mis-buttoned collar. "It's... it's a... ventilation thing. Yeah. Lets the air in."
"At 9:43 in the morning, after a night of 'car trouble'?" Elena added, her voice dry as toast. She took a slow sip of her coffee, her gaze shifting to Valerie. "You two look like you wrestled a bear and lost."
