Chapter 6 •A Quiet Comfort•

The evening sunlight had faded, replaced by the soft glow of streetlights filtering through the curtains. Maddie sat cross-legged on the couch, Socks sprawled out beside her.

His tiny chest rose and fell with contented purrs as she gently stroked his fur.

“You’ve had quite a day, haven’t you, little guy?” she murmured. Socks responded with a sleepy twitch of his ear, making her smile despite the ache in her chest.

Her phone sat on the coffee table, its screen dark, but Mark’s earlier message replayed in her mind: A cat? Seriously? You know I hate animals, Maddie.

She sighed, leaning back against the couch. Why did everything have to feel so... heavy with him lately? Socks let out a soft meow, nuzzling her hand as if sensing her unease.

“You don’t hate me, do you?” she whispered, scratching behind his ears. Socks purred louder, his tiny paws kneading the blanket beneath him.

Impulsively, she picked up her phone and opened her chat with Ethan. The picture of Socks, now dozing peacefully, seemed like the perfect antidote to her swirling thoughts.

Maddie: Found this guy today. Meet Socks. I think we’re roommates now.

The reply came almost immediately.

Ethan: A CAT? Maddie, this is huge. You? A pet? Are you sure you’re not the one that got adopted?

She laughed softly, the tension in her shoulders easing a little.

Maddie: Maybe I did. He found me in the park, and I couldn’t just leave him there. He’s a little shy, but he’s warming up.

Ethan: He’s adorable. And don’t worry, he’ll be running the place by next week. Cats are like that.

Maddie smiled at his response, but the shadow of Mark’s earlier words lingered. Why couldn’t he have reacted like this? Why did everything with Mark feel like walking on eggshells?

“Why does he even care?” she muttered to herself, setting the phone down.

Socks stirred, stretching his legs and letting out another tiny meow. Maddie chuckled, scooping him up gently. She carried him to the small bed she’d set up in the corner of her room, placing him on the soft blanket.

“Goodnight, Socks,” she whispered, running a finger along his head. He blinked at her sleepily before curling into a ball.

Back in her own bed, she glanced at her phone again. A new message from Ethan lit up the screen.

Ethan: Okay, but serious question: Are you going to dress Socks up for Christmas? Because I’m picturing a tiny Santa hat, and I think you owe me this joy.

Maddie grinned despite herself.

Maddie: I’ll consider it. But only if you agree to help me find the outfit.

Ethan: Deal. You’ve made my day, by the way. Thanks for introducing me to Socks.

Her smile faltered slightly. Ethan’s words warmed her, but they also stirred an uncomfortable realization. Why did hearing from him feel so much easier than texting her own boyfriend?

She set the phone aside and turned off the lamp, the room now dark except for the faint glow of the streetlights outside. As she listened to the soft sound of Socks breathing in the corner, a thought crept into her mind.

Maybe she deserved this kind of comfort—not just from Socks, but from the people in her life too.

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