"You both made it feel like a home," Lukas added, lowering himself into the large leather chair across from them. He looked around the suite—soft jazz playing low, cinnamon-scented candles flickering on the windowsill, and the two most important people in his life within arm's reach. For the first time in weeks, he felt the pace of time slow down.
As the evening deepened, the suite was filled with laughter. Bella and Lukas teamed up to make homemade pizzas, while Annie was in charge of desserts. They played board games, teased one another, and even FaceTimed Roy and Jay, who were celebrating from the apartment nearby.
Just before midnight, the three of them moved to the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the shimmering Philadelphia skyline. The lights of the city danced beneath them, and the snow was still falling, soft as powdered sugar.
"Five minutes," Bella said, checking her phone.
