The Calm After the Splash

Leonard stood just outside the guest room, the soft murmur of distant music drifting up from downstairs. The hallway had quieted, but his heart was still slightly unsettled. He'd run into Claudio near the staircase just moments ago.

Now, standing in front of the door, he shifted slightly and raised his knuckles to knock. In his other hand, he held a warm ceramic mug filled with chamomile tea. He had changed into jeans and a dark navy shirt, and his hair still dampened at the roots

The soft creak of the guest room door broke the hush that had settled inside. Leonard stepped in slowly. The chaos of the backyard party had faded behind the closed door, replaced now by a warm, hushed stillness that filled the cozy guest room.