“I’m not in that place anymore,” I promised.

“And I never want you to be again,” she said with a sympathetic smile.

Mallory may have been a pain at times, but I knew she was always looking after me. I didn’t care how much she bothered others with her confident attitude and never ending sass. She’d been there for me when I most needed a friend. That was what counted.

“Mal, I promise. Never again.”

She stood from the chair and walked over to the couch, sitting down next to me. Her arms wrapped around me, and I could smell her vanilla chai perfume. She pulled me close and squeezed me tightly.

“You’re going to suffocate me,” I giggled.

“I just needed to remind you how much I love you,” she teased.

“I love you too, Mal,” I answered as she let me go from the hug.

I leaned my head onto her shoulder and pulled the remote out of the crack of the couch cushions. A list of movies popped up on the streaming service as I clicked through and found one that looked interesting. I turned it on and let myself become completely lost to it.

At some point, I started to doze off from the combination of wine and the time growing late. Mal carefully slid out from under me and lowered me onto the couch. I could barely keep my eyes open as I let her tuck me in. A blanket was tossed over me and a pillow slid under my head. I pulled my legs in and cuddled up with the warm blanket.

The television still played, and I heard Mal tiptoeing her way out of the apartment.

“Goodnight,” she whispered before opening the door and slipping out.

* * *

My hand hung off the couch, and I’d completely lost the blanket at some point in the night. I almost rolled off before catching myself and realizing where I was. I’d crashed hard after Mallory left.

I stood and made my way to the kitchen to get the coffee brewing and breakfast started. My fridge was bordering on empty for groceries, but I managed to find some strawberries and yogurt. The smell of brewing coffee filled my apartment, and I inhaled deeply.

The second best scent next to the salty air by the ocean.

My hand held a mug steady as I poured the coffee into it. I found oat milk in my fridge and added a splash to the cup. Steam rose from it, and I placed it aside on the small island that made up the center of my kitchen while I ate most of my breakfast.

A meow from beneath me pulled my attention away before I could take that first blissful sip of caffeine.

Alonzo sat at my feet, his green eyes bearing into me.