When Alicia opens the door, the smell of coffee grows stronger, rich and warm, and it calms nerves she does not even realize she is carrying.
I am a Sentinel. I do not get nervous.
She exhales slowly.
I cannot believe I am nervous.
She takes a steadying breath and walks toward the kitchen.
She hears their voices before she sees them.
"Good morning, you two. Am I interrupting anything?"
Her voice is steady, but her heart pounds hard against her ribs. Her lips twitch. Cold sweat gathers at the back of her neck.
This is ridiculous.
Not once in her life does she remember feeling this anxious walking into a room.
And yet here she is, waiting for a response from a teenager and a woman about her age.
Somehow, their opinions matter to her.
Theo and Maeve only pause for a second before smiling.
"Good morning!"
"Morning, Alicia!"
Alicia's smile widens before she can stop it. She never thinks a simple greeting could make her feel this relieved.
