Page 161 of Saint Céline
Vincent unlocked the door and stepped aside so I could walk in first. The apartment looked exactly as it had the night before—dark floors, tall windows, rain sliding down the glass.
Sophia moved slowly, taking everything in with her eyes. Anya did not bother with subtlety. She checked the kitchen, the hallway, the bathroom, the windows, the locks, then looked at Vincent like she hoped to find a secret trapdoor just so she could call him out on it.
“Guest room,” I said.
Vincent led us down the hall. The room he showed me was larger than I expected, with a wide bed covered in black bedding, a desk by the window, empty bookshelves, a wardrobe, a private bathroom, and a clear view of the cliffs through the rain. The air smelled faintly of cedar and fresh linen, prepared too fast to feel accidental.
I turned to him. “You already had this ready.
“Yes.”
Sophia’s gaze sharpened.
Anya muttered, “Serial killer behaviour.”
Vincent ignored her. “The lock is on the inside.”
He opened the door wider so we could see. It was a real lock, solid and simple. I stepped closer and turned it myself. The click felt smooth. Something tight in my chest eased a fraction.
Miss Astoria screamed until I set the carrier down and opened it. She walked out with offended dignity, sniffed the floor, then jumped straight onto the windowsill and settled there like she had been promised that exact view in a past life.
Vincent looked at me.
I refused to meet his eyes.
Anya pointed at the cat. “Traitor.”
“She likes windows,” Vincent said.
“I know,” I snapped.
Sophia checked the bathroom while Anya opened the wardrobe and stared at the empty shelves.
“This room is fine,” Sophia said at last.
The word felt wrong here. Nothing about any of this was fine, but I nodded anyway.
We unpacked only what I needed for tonight—pajamas, toiletries, laptop. I slid the medication into the bedside drawer. I felt Vincent’s attention sharpen from the hallway when the bottle clicked against wood. I closed the drawer and looked at him.
“Stay out of it.”
“I agreed.”
“You agree to a lot of things right before you ignore them.”
His mouth curved just a little. “Noted.”
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
Anya stepped between us.
“Great. Boundaries set. I love to see it. I still hate the location.”
Sophia zipped the last empty bag and turned to me. “We will come by tomorrow.”
“I have class.”
