Adeline shut her eyes, drawing a deep breath, and the next time she opened them, Caesar was right there in the hallway, five feet away from her.
He'd come to a stop, just staring at her as if he couldn't tell if it was really her or not.
She pinched between her brows, completely tired. He was going to get mad, she could tell, and she really didn't want him to, not at that moment. Sighing, she lifted her head to meet his gaze. "Caesar, listen, I-"
Her smaller, drenched frame was wrapped up in warm, big arms and pulled into a tight hug. The man had his face buried in her neck, his embrace seeming nervous and relieving.
"I thought you left me. I thought-"
"I would never leave you, Caesar." Adeline smiled softly and reached over with her hand to comb through his dark hair. "I love you, and I'm sorry I went out without letting you know. I wanted to... but you were nowhere to be found." A soft sigh fled her nose.
