Your head is pounding.

That’s the first thing you register as you slowly open your eyes. The ceiling above you isn’t yours. The walls aren’t yours either. And the faint smell of coffee mixed with cheap soap definitely isn’t coming from your place.

Panic flickers through you.

You shift slightly—and freeze.

Someone is sitting at the edge of the bed.

“Relax,” a familiar voice says. “If you move any slower, you might actually stop time.”

You blink again.

Fiona Gallagher.

She’s holding a mug of coffee, still in yesterday’s clothes, hair messy like she didn’t sleep much either. She looks tired. And oddly… nervous.

“What—” your voice comes out hoarse. “Why am I in your bed?”

She immediately holds up a hand. “Okay. First of all—nothing happened.”

You stare at her.

She repeats it, more pointed this time. “Nothing. Happened.”

Your heart is still racing. “Then why do I remember laughing, loud music, and absolutely nothing after that?”

“Yeah,” she mutters, rubbing her face. “That tracks.”

You sit up slowly, the blanket slipping to your waist. You’re fully dressed. Shoes gone. Jacket folded. That somehow makes it more confusing.

“So what did happen?” you ask.

Fiona hesitates.

“Well… you showed up at Patsy’s after a rough day. You were exhausted, overwhelmed, definitely not in a state to go back alone. You almost fell asleep at the counter.” She softens slightly. “So I brought you here. You passed out immediately.”