I sat down on the couch, sipping a cup of hot chocolate that Kasteil had quietly made for me while I sulked. The mug was warm against my palms, steam curling up in soft wisps, carrying the rich scent of cocoa and a hint of vanilla. It wasn't the one I was drinking before, he made another one.
Chow Chow had climbed onto my lap the moment I sat, her massive, fluffy body settling like a living blanket. Her head rested on my thighs, black tongue lolling happily as she panted in contentment. I scratched behind her ears absently as I watched a TV show.
After I got back inside, he said nothing and just let me be. Of course I avoided him because I was still annoyed—annoyed at myself more than anything. The cold air had slapped some sense into me, but it hadn't erased the embarrassment or the lingering frustration. I'd stormed out like a child, come crawling back like one too, and now the silence between us felt thick and heavy. I went into his room and shut myself there for sometime.
