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EVERY TIME I SEE SATORU'S short hair, it almost brings me to tears. Not because I don't like it—he's sexy no matter the length of his hair—but because of what it represents.
He's used it as a shield for all these years, and I'm honored that he would ask me to be part of his healing process. It serves as a reminder of his willingness and courage to step outside of his comfort zone.
His example has made me consider my situation with my dad. I've avoided a confrontation with him out of fear that I'll lose my job, financial security, and any chance of having a working relationship. However, I'm learning that my happiness should come first, above all else. When the next opportunity presents itself, I won't pass up the chance to stand my ground.
I'm yanked from my thoughts by the sound of the fire alarm.
"Oh no," I shout, leaping from my chair. I rush to the oven and yank out the burned casserole, dropping it into the sink—dish and all. Plumes of smoke surround me as the alarm continues to blare.
Satoru chooses this exact moment to come home, rushing into the kitchen with a startled look on his face. His eyes dart to me before jumping onto the kitchen island and turning off the smoke detector.
I sigh in relief when the apartment finally falls into silence. It's a good thing his gym is on the floor below, or we'd have angry neighbors demanding to know what all the commotion was about.
"N/n, are you okay?" He climbs down and stalks toward me, gently cradling my face with his hands.
"Yeah, I'm so sorry," I mutter, my face flushed with embarrassment. "I was baking a shepherd's pie for dinner but burned it."
He's been so incredibly thoughtful since I moved in, and I wanted to do something special for him in return. I left work early to pick up a bake-at-home pie from a nearby restaurant, figuring it would be easy to prepare. The only problem is that I forgot to set a timer when I put it in the oven and got distracted.
"At least now we know the smoke detector works." Satoru offers me a reassuring smile. "I'm just glad you're okay." I melt into his touch, inhaling the comforting scent of citrus, musk, and sandalwood.
Our domesticated marital bliss feels more real by the day, especially now that we're having sex every chance we get. Something about our new intimacy has brought us closer despite the lingering doubts in the back of my mind.
I meant it when I told him that I trust him, but I can't help waiting for the other shoe to drop. In the past, whenever things started to look up, that's when they fell apart.
I narrow my eyes at Satoru when he laughs. "What's so funny?" I frown.
"I'm not laughing at you, N/n. It's just amusing how neither of us can cook worth shit."
I tilt my head, my brows furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean? You've made dinner almost every night, and every dish tastes like it came out of Theo's kitchen."
