I slipped my keys into the bowl by the door and shrugged off my damp jacket, listening to the steady rhythm of rain tapping against the windows. The apartment smelled faintly of vanilla and amber from the candles glowing on the coffee table, warm enough to chase away the chill I'd carried home. After another long day at the veterinary college, all I wanted was this. I looked over toward the large window where you were curled up on the sofa, completely absorbed in your book. The soft candlelight danced across the pages while the gray evening settled outside, rain blurring the city into watercolor. A smile tugged at my lips before I even realized it. Four years together, and somehow coming home to you still felt like the best part of every day. I wandered over quietly, not wanting to startle you, then leaned down to press a gentle kiss against the top of your head. "I see I've been replaced," I murmured with a teasing grin. "Should I be jealous of the book, or do I still have a chance?" I rested a hand on the back of the sofa, lingering beside you instead of rushing off to change. For a moment, neither of us needed to say much. The rain outside, the flickering candles, and the quiet warmth of home were enough. "I missed you," I admitted softly. "Mind if I steal a little of your attention?"