Chapter 8 •The Announcement•

The hum of the television played softly in the background, but Maddie wasn’t paying attention. Her phone sat on the coffee table, face up, an unanswered text from Mark glaring at her.

Socks had curled up on the cushion beside her, his soft breathing an oddly comforting rhythm.

Just as she reached for the remote to turn off the TV, her phone buzzed again. Maddie sighed, reluctant but curious.

Mark: I’ll be back the day after tomorrow. Can’t wait to see you.

Her heart fluttered for a brief moment, the way it always did when she thought of him coming home. But the feeling didn’t last. Something else lingered—something heavier.

She stared at the message, reading it over and over, trying to gauge her own reaction. Was she happy? Nervous? She wasn’t sure.

“Mark’s coming home,” she said aloud, more to herself than Socks. The little cat lifted his head at the sound of her voice, blinking at her sleepily before tucking his nose back into his paws.

Maddie tried to focus on the excitement. They hadn’t seen each other in weeks; surely that was something to look forward to. But a shadow of doubt crept in, one she couldn’t quite shake.

Later that evening, Maddie found herself scrolling through her phone, aimlessly flipping between apps. A notification from Ethan popped up.

Ethan: Socks taking over yet?

She smiled, grateful for the distraction.

Maddie: Completely. I’m officially his servant.

Ethan’s reply came almost instantly.

Ethan: Good. You needed a boss to keep you in line.

She laughed, her mood lifting. The banter felt easy, natural—a stark contrast to her conversations with Mark lately. Ethan didn’t demand anything from her; he just... showed up in his own way.

As her laughter faded, so did her lightened mood. Mark would be back soon, and she hadn’t mentioned reconnecting with Ethan—or adopting Socks.

Was she avoiding the topic because it didn’t matter? Or because it mattered too much?

Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Mark.

Mark: What have you been up to?

Maddie hesitated, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She typed, deleted, and retyped several times before settling on a safe reply.

Maddie: Not much. Just the usual work stuff.

She locked her phone and set it aside before Mark could respond.

The house felt quieter than usual as the night stretched on. Socks followed her to bed, curling up beside her pillow. She stroked his fur absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting.

Mark’s return should have been a comfort. It used to be. But now, it felt complicated. She couldn’t deny the flicker of anxiety that came with the idea of him walking through the door, his presence filling the space she had started to reclaim.

And then there was Ethan—a steady, unassuming presence who didn’t ask for much but gave so freely.

Maddie sighed, turning onto her side. Socks stretched, his tiny paw pressing against her shoulder. She closed her eyes, willing herself to feel the peace she so desperately needed.

But even in the quiet, unease lingered, like a storm gathering on the horizon.

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