"Dee?" she called softly, half amused, half surprised.
He shifted at the sound of her voice, lowering his arm just enough to look at her through half-lidded eyes. "You're back," he murmured, his voice low and relaxed, as if this were his home instead of hers.
"You're… very comfortable," she said, walking closer, trying not to smile at how oversized he looked on her modest couch.
"Your couch is hostile," he replied calmly. "It is clearly designed to offend tall people."
She laughed under her breath. "You could have chosen a chair."
"I chose suffering," he said flatly, closing his eyes again.
Alina shook her head fondly and moved to sit at the edge of the couch, careful not to wake the sleeping boys in the other room. "When did you come?"
"While you were tucking them in," he answered, his eyes opening again to follow her. "I didn't want to disturb them."
Her heart softened at that. "They're both asleep. Sable didn't even wake up for lunch."
