Chapter 23

Just immediately Elena walked it, sunglasses perched on her head and hair tied up in a loose bun. She took one step inside, overhearing Mia last sentence only.

“Wait, who doesn’t own a stove?” she asked, eyes darting between Stefan, Mia, and Mose. “And what the actual fuck is going on here?” Her voice rang through the living room like an alarm.

Mia didn’t bother hiding her amusement. She gestured vaguely toward the kitchen-in-progress. “I'm as surprised as you are.”

Elena squinted toward the noise, then walked over to the table and picked up the coffee cup that had been waiting. She sniffed it, and sipped it delicately,...