Chapter 9 •A Step Forward•

The day passed in a blur of emails and meetings, and by the time Maddie finally left the office, she felt drained. The chilly autumn air greeted her as she stepped outside, and for a moment, she hesitated.

Normally, she’d head straight home, but the thought of walking into the quiet house filled her with unease.

Instead, she stopped at the corner café, ordering a chai latte to go. It wasn’t much, but it gave her an excuse to linger, to be among people for just a little longer.

When Maddie finally arrived home, Socks was at the door, stretching lazily as if he’d been waiting for her.

“Miss me?” she asked, scooping him up. His soft purring was an immediate balm to her frayed nerves.

She set him down and unpacked her things, her eyes catching on the glowing screen of her phone. Another message from Mark.

Mark: Any chance you can pick up my dry cleaning before I’m back?

Maddie frowned. The message was practical, devoid of warmth, and for some reason, it stung more than she expected. She typed out a quick reply:

Maddie: Sure.

Her phone buzzed again almost immediately.

Mark: Thanks. By the way, you didn’t tell me about this cat you’ve got now.

Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t mentioned Socks to Mark directly, but maybe he’d seen the picture she’d posted online. She debated how to respond but decided on honesty.

Maddie: His name’s Socks. Found him on Sunday—he was hurt, so I brought him home.

This time, there was a longer pause before Mark’s reply.

Mark: Don’t get too attached. You know I’m not a fan of animals in the house.

Her stomach twisted. She stared at the words, her thumb hovering over the screen, but no reply came to mind. Socks meowed softly at her feet, as if sensing her discomfort.

To distract herself, Maddie started preparing dinner. As the familiar motions of chopping and stirring filled the silence, she found herself thinking about Ethan.

Mark’s lack of interest in her day-to-day life was nothing new, but with Ethan, it felt different. Even the smallest exchange—like their chat about Socks—had left her feeling seen.

Her phone buzzed again, but this time, it was Ethan.

Ethan: What’s the verdict? Socks officially spoiled yet?

Maddie smiled despite herself.

Maddie: Completely. He’s basically running the house now.

The exchange was simple, but it steadied her. She finished her meal and sat down with Socks curled up on her lap, determined not to let Mark’s words ruin her evening.

As the night wore on, she realized something: she was tired of being the only one trying. For so long, she’d convinced herself that Mark’s distance was normal, but now, with every kind word from Ethan and every silent moment with Socks, the contrast was impossible to ignore.

When Maddie finally went to bed, her phone was still within arm’s reach. She stared at the glowing screen, Mark’s messages still unanswered, and made a quiet decision.

Tomorrow, she’d focus on herself—what she wanted, what she needed.

And if that meant putting a little distance between herself and Mark, so be it.

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