Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 32

Chapter 32 The Help 

Ava stepped into the bathroom. The walls were lined with dark green tiles, and a mirror with an ornate gold frame hung above the sink. She stared at her reflection. Water was still dripping from her hair, and she looked soaked entirely, as she had just been dragged out of the rain. A few items were scattered across the counter. A razor lay untouched inside its case, as if it had been carefully placed there and never moved. The case was stamped with an intricate gold pattern that looked almost excessive. The razor itself was an old- fashioned model, clearly outdated, but the blade was still frighteningly sharp. 

I did not expect him to use a razor like this at all. I always thought this was the sort of thing only my grandpa and people his age would be into. 

The realization hit her all at once. She had stepped into Laurent’s private space. Ava hesitated and was taken aback. It felt as if his presence still lingered in the room, faint but unmistakable, and the mere thought of it made her cheeks flush red. 

She took a slow, steady breath and braced herself, mentally preparing for the next step. 

I’m just borrowing it in a pinch. I didn’t do anything else, I swear. 

During that frozen moment where Ava hadn’t moved a muscle, someone walked into the room. She shivered all over and looked up. 

Laurent was holding a neatly folded towel. “Fresh. Never used.” He walked over and set it on the shelf. Watching her blush burn across her cheeks, he stared for a few seconds before speaking again. “This is my room. No need to feel awkward. The other rooms in this house are empty. If it really bothers you, I can get you another one.” 

He’d practically laid it all out there. If Ava hesitated now, it would just seem dramatic. “No, thank you,” she said, standing by the door, fingers twisting the doorknob without looking at him. “You can go now.” 

“Alright.” Laurent didn’t linger. He strode out, and the door slammed shut behind him. He paused for a moment, then walked to the living room in long, deliberate steps. 

He stood in front of the enormous floor–to–ceiling windows, the sound of the rain drumming outside filling the room. For a moment, he just watched. Then the corner of his mouth lifted into a smile, showing a perfect row of teeth. It was the kind of grin a predator flashes before sinking its teeth into prey. 

Ava… 

He whispered her name in his mind. 

Ava took a quick shower and slipped into the white shirt he’d given her. It was way too big, hanging off her frame like a dress and revealing a stretch of pale, bare calves. 

She cursed the d*mn weather for changing on a whim and scolded herself for forgetting her spatial storage ring. She quickly scrubbed her clothes clean and then dried her hair. Finally, she cracked the door open a sliver. Seeing nobody outside, she stepped out. 

She had no idea where the dryer was. It wasn’t in the bathroom. 

Ava reached the doorway to the porch and realized Laurent hadn’t left. He was just standing by the windows, staring at her from a distance. 

1/3 

Wen, Jan 7 

Chapter 32 The Help 

Her checks flamed as she asked, “Uh, where’s the dryer?” 

Laurent watched her, small and barefoot in his shirt, standing there awkwardly. Her toes fidgeted nervously probably smaller than his palm, even if she curled them in her hands. 

Ava thought today was a complete disaster because she hadn’t checked her astrology before leaving the house. 

I’m so awkward, it’s like embarrassment just barged right in. 

Laurent walked over as he spoke, “Hand it over.” 

Ava hugged the freshly washed, still–damp clothes. “I’ve got it.” 

He didn’t push. “Then come with me.” 

She followed him into the back room and immediately regretted it. If she’d known his dryer was in the bedroom, there was no way she would have insisted on carrying the clothes herself. 

Ava tried to keep her head down and not look around, but her eyes caught the left side of the bed where a walk–in closet extended inward. On the right, a small balcony jutted out, and the dryer was built right into the balcony wall, blending seamlessly with the white paint. 

Laurent opened the dryer. Ava quickly shoved the clothes in, set the timer, and stood there quietly, waiting. 

“Go inside and wait,” Laurent said. 

Ava gave a small reply and glanced into the inner room, staying silent. 

“Hurry up and get inside. There’s no heat out here. You want to catch a cold?” he added. 

She darted inside, shivering despite her tough act just moments ago. 

Laurent walked into the closet to grab some clothes. Seeing Ava frozen in place, he chuckled and murmured, “You’re as timid as a quail.” 

Then he headed to the bathroom. As soon as he stepped in, his eyes landed on a pair of women’s flats by the door. He squatted to pick them up, scrutinizing them, and held them in his hands. Just as he thought, they were tiny. 

Ava bit her lip. 

I’m not timid. I’ve just never, in my life, stepped into a grown man’s bedroom, and it feels… weird. 

Laurent didn’t,stay in the bathroom long. He changed into a black short–sleeve shirt and pants. Coming out, he noticed Ava standing by the balcony door, staring through the glass at the dryer. 

“What are you looking at?” Laurent’s voice suddenly sounded right beside her. Ava jumped, realizing he had quietly walked up without her noticing. 

Does this guy walk like a ghost or what? Not a single sound. 

2/3 

The Five Powerleners Who Match the Unwilling Unido.