{Elira}
~**^**~
The driver's door opened, and out stepped a man who, for a moment, made me forget the sun was shining.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, with hair the color of dark roast coffee, neatly styled.
His smile was polite but warm, his posture straight but relaxed—someone completely at ease in his own skin.
Nari sucked in a tiny breath beside me. Cambria's fingers froze halfway through tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Even Juniper, who was normally unshakable, tilted her head like she was trying to discreetly appraise him.
Tamryn barely blinked. "Elira," she said, nodding in my direction first, "this is my older brother, Kaelen. Kaelen, this is Elira."
He turned to me with a polite nod, his voice smooth. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," I replied, hoping my tone didn't betray the faint rush of warmth in my cheeks.
Tamryn went on, her hand sweeping casually toward the others. "And these are my roommates—Nari, Cambria, and Juniper."
