ARLENE

The drive to Liam’s place was silent—not the type that left you feeling jittery and on edge, but the comforting kind that gives you a chance to catch your breath and recalibrate your mind.

Once we stepped into the house, I thanked him for coming to get me when I needed help. He brushed the comment away with a joke, saying he’d always drop everything whenever I needed him. Then, he directed me to a room where I could change and left, saying he had to grab something.

When I returned to the living room, a hot cup of coffee and freshly made pancakes were waiting for me on...