Arriving home, Mia found the door locked. She took out the spare key Cid had given her and let herself in. The house was quiet. Quiet. Cid hadn't come home yet.
She went straight to her room, unpacked her things, and jumped into the shower. The hot water soothed her tired muscles.
A few minutes later, wrapped in a bathrobe and a towel around her hair, she came out of the bathroom humming.
"Aaah... that feels like—"
"How's the bath?"
Mia screamed, jumped, and in an animal reflex, threw the towel she was wearing... right at the intruder's face.
"Ouch! It's me, calm down!"
She blinked. Fran. Sprawled on the bed, a smirk on her lips.
—You want to kill me with wet cloth, is that it?
—What are you doing here, moron?!
—I came to say hello to the sexiest woman in existence… and apparently, I chose my moment well.
—Pervert! she hissed, blushing.
—Did you know that bathrobe looks amazing on you? The slightest thing makes you dangerously attractive, you know…
—Get out, or I'll call the police!
—Don't even be scared, I have a good alibi: admiring you.
Mia burst out laughing in spite of herself, before heading back to the bathroom.
—I'm going to get dressed. Behave yourself, pervert.
—No problem. But you know… you don't need to wear much… just a pair of socks, that's fine by me.
—Fran!
He burst out laughing, holding up his hands in a gesture of innocence.
A few minutes later, dressed in a baggy T-shirt and comfortable shorts, Mia returned to the bedroom. She stopped dead in her tracks.
Fran was sitting on her bed, a tray on her lap. Two glasses of wine, two steaks, perfectly grilled.
"I thought you might be hungry. And I wanted to spend some quality time with you."
"You're incredible," she murmured, touched.
She sat down next to him, grabbing a fork.
"You cook as well as you are annoying."
"It's a gift. And besides... I have my ways to charm you."
They ate dinner in a relaxed atmosphere, full of laughter and little digs. Then, Fran's gaze turned more serious.
"Tell me, Mia... How are things going with Cid?"