I took her hand and guided her toward the living room, the sound of the storm hammering against the windows like the world outside had decided to crack open. Here, with everyone, it was warm. And for a brief moment, everything felt steady.
The girls, who had all stood up when the power cut, slowly settled back into their seats. Jasmine guided Minne to the couch and gently pushed her down beside her. Tessa, now sitting on the other side, gave Minne a soft pat between her shoulder blades.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark," Tessa teased.
"Mm?" Minne blinked at her. "Oh, no. I'm not. I'm used to living in the darkness."
"Her old room," Nala said from the dinner table, the glow of her laptop lighting her face. "Didn't have proper lights. Freaking Guy…"
Jasmine clicked her tongue. "I swear I hate that man. No offense, Nala. I know he's your brother but—damn he sucks."
"I know," Nala replied with a shrug. "He's a bastard."
