Ziggy pushed the apartment door open, his suitcase dragging behind him. The familiar scent of home greeted him, mingling with the faint lavender air freshener he had left plugged in. He placed the shopping bag carefully on the kitchen counter, the sleek designer logo gleaming under the lights.
"Perfect," he muttered, thinking about how Fara's face might light up when she saw the bag.
He was just about to grab a drink when the doorbell rang, an urgent, persistent buzz. Ziggy frowned, walking over and opening the door to find Ruby standing there, dressed to the nines despite the late hour.
"Ruby?" His tone held a mix of surprise and exhaustion
"Ziggy!" Ruby's voice was a mix of relief and exasperation as she stepped forward, arms outstretched. Before he could react, she wrapped herself around him in a tight hug, her head resting on his chest. "I thought you'd vanished! Where the hell have you been? I've been trying to reach you for weeks!"
