HE NEVER LEFT.

that made me feel safe was the soft breathing of Zara that I could hear next to me. I kept replayi

s neatly rearranged or how I would meet my house in order even though I remembered leaving it messy before going to work. I

n't help me feel relieved. I sat on the kitchen counter staring at the key hoo

out of my thoughts by Zara's voice. She was standing by

s I jumped down from the kitchen counter. "J

e. "Well don't stress too much. It's your day off. What would you

my pocket. It was

rse La

time before finally responding. It felt like he knew

ave texted at a

stract myself. Zara and I ended up watching a m

wrong?" Dan

hings I can't talk ab

r, his respon

r address. I'm comi

xcuse about needing to run an errand. I ran upstairs to get ready to see hi

ar black car was parked across the street. It took me a while before I realized it was Adrian's. The window glasses were up and

om ear to ear. "You look beaut

ar parked across the street. Daniel noticed, and l

car door open. Adrian came down from the car. He wore his favorite leather jacke

ogging over. "Hey, I was

me, his stance seemingl

aya's best friend." He turned back at me. "Your lipstick fell ou

h my lipstick in it. I felt extremely guilty. He

rom his hand. "Adrian, this is Danie

. Take good care of her, okay? She forgets everything." He laughed as I rolled my eyes at him. He turned back at me. "I was

I'm sorry," I said, feeling terrible. He had driven all the way from his house to do me

e just held open the passenger door of his car, waiting. "It's up to you.

in the drivew

someone normal outside of my chaotic life. On the other side was Adrian, my

ing my best friend. But looking at Daniel, I realized how

nd dismissively as if trying to hide his disappointment. "Don'

leaning in to give him

you get back, okay? Jus

Thanks,

the door gently, walked around to the driver's seat, and kicked the car. As w

ut me. I let out a breath and smiled at Daniel, trying to shake off the guilt. I had no idea that back on the driv