Amy stood outside the Velvet Specter, hands in her coat pockets, the pale winter light catching on the car's deep metallic lines. The Veylan residence loomed a short walk away, its front gates still closed.
She wasn't ready to meet Sara's parents. Not yet. Not for this.
Pulling her phone from her pocket, she typed a quick message.
[Amy]: I'm outside.
A minute later, the front door opened. Sara stepped out, wrapped in a tailored coat, her hair catching the light as she crossed the front steps. She spotted Amy, and for the briefest instant her gaze flicked past her — toward the car. Something unreadable flashed in her eyes before she smoothed it away and kept walking.
They greeted each other simply, no drawn-out small talk in the cold. Amy opened the passenger door for her, and once they were both settled inside and the Specter eased into motion, Sara finally spoke.
"Where's the Vireon?" Sara asked as she settled into the seat, her hand brushing over the smooth leather. "You've been driving it the last two times."
Amy glanced at her with a faint smile. "In the garage. I decided to take this one out today."
Sara gave the interior another curious look. "It's… different. Feels like it belongs in a showroom."
Amy's mouth curved a little more. "She has a name. Velvet Specter."
Sara raised a brow. "You name your cars?"
"They're nicknames," Amy corrected lightly. "The one you've seen before — the Vireon — I call her the Lilac Ghost. My grandma came up with both names years ago. She left the cars to me when she passed away last year."
There was a pause, quiet but not uncomfortable.
"…Velvet Specter," Sara repeated, almost to herself, then looked back out the window as the city began to slip away. "It suits you."
The rest of the drive was easy, conversation drifting between light topics until they reached Amy's home.
Inside, the warmth and faint scent of basil from the greenhouse flowers greeted them. Amy guided Sara to the dining area, the table already set with Orrin's meticulous care.
Lunch was unhurried — chicken al Limone with herb pasta, roasted vegetables, and a small fruit tart to finish. Sara's smile when she took the first bite was quiet but unmistakable.
"You weren't exaggerating," she said after a while. "You can cook."
Amy's only answer was a faint smile.
They lingered at the table long after the plates were cleared, the conversation stretching and winding through stories, shared observations, and comfortable silences. The hours slipped by unnoticed.
It was as the afternoon light began to fade that Sara's voice dipped, just slightly. "You know… I'm glad we did this."
Amy met her gaze and, for a moment, neither of them looked away.
Then Sara leaned in. It wasn't on the lips — not quite — but the kiss landed close enough to make Amy's breath catch. Warmth lingered on her skin long after Sara had drawn back, her expression unreadable except for the faintest upward curve at the corner of her mouth.
Amy's mind was still replaying it when they stepped back into the Velvet Specter for the return drive. The world outside the windows blurred past; inside, silence filled the space between them. Amy didn't trust herself to speak without giving something away.
…
When they pulled up in front of the Veylan residence, Sara unfastened her seatbelt, then turned toward her.
Another kiss — the same place as before, close enough to feel like a near-miss. Amy froze, pulse unsteady.
Sara's voice was soft. "See you tomorrow."
It felt casual, almost thoughtless, but the words landed with a weight Amy couldn't name.
Before she could reply, Sara had stepped out, her coat catching the evening light as she disappeared inside.
…
Amy sat there for a long moment before starting the engine. The drive home passed in a haze, the streetlights flashing over the dashboard in slow rhythm.
Back in her room, she didn't remember changing or getting into bed. Her last clear memory was the warmth of Sara's lips against her skin and the quiet, unguarded tone of her voice.
She fell asleep smiling — and woke the next morning not knowing when or how she'd gotten there.
But she remembered that she was overjoyed.