Damian stepped out of the car and the first thing that hit him was the heat. It wasn't the dry, suffocating heat of a city afternoon but a heavy, humid warmth that wrapped around his skin and settled into his bones. The air felt alive, thick with movement, distant voices, rolling suitcases, engines humming, and announcements echoing overhead.
Airports always had its unique vibe.
His gaze lifted lazily and then stopped the moment it spotted Clara.
She stood just beyond the glass doors, one hand on her hip, the other holding her phone loosely. She wasn't smiling. But the moment their eyes met, something in her posture shifted, like a tension she had been holding finally loosened.
Damian walked toward her without slowing down, Hazel and Racheal naturally falling into step beside him, while Ruby trailed slightly behind, already smiling.
Clara didn't wait for greetings.
