chapter 16(2)

It’s hours later and early morning before I hear the key in the door. I glance at the hall leading to the front door to see Valen quietly walk in before noticing the lamp on beside me. He pauses for a moment, then drops his keys into the bowl on the hall stand. “How was your day?” I ask him. “Long,” is all he answers before he heads down the hall, retrieves a towel from the linen closet, and walks into the bathroom. Packing up my laptop, I walk to the bathroom door and grip the door handle, but he locked it. I sigh and knock on the door, yet he ignores me. I know he heard me because I can feel his annoyance. “I’m having lunch with my father tomorrow and I wanted to take Valarian. Mom and Dad want to see him,” I call out to him through the door. Yet Valen chooses to ignore me and I hear the water shut off. Sighing, I move back to the couch and wait for him to come out. He does, walking off toward the bedroom before returning with his pillow and blanket. “Did you hear me?” I ask him, tho