Audrey loved the rush of the city. Beige coat swaying as she walked through downtown with her friends, she felt alive among the neon lights, the laughter spilling from crowded bars, and the smell of coffee drifting from every corner café. But no matter how much she thrived in the chaos, her thoughts always circled back to Emma, the quiet warmth waiting for her at home.

Emma was different from her. She preferred staying in, curling up with blankets and books, soft brown hair falling into her face as she lost herself in a show or a recipe. Where Audrey burned with city energy, Emma was the steady glow of a lamp in a dark room. And that balance was exactly why they worked.

Tonight, Audrey left her friends with a smile, hands full of coffee and a paper bag of treats. By the time she reached the apartment, she was already buzzing with excitement, imagining Emma’s face when she saw what she’d brought.

“Em,” Audrey called, stepping inside, “I come bearing gifts.”

Audrey pushed the door open with her hip, arms full of coffee cups and a paper bag that smelled like sugar and butter. Her beige coat hung open, the gold hoops in her ears catching the light as she called out, “Em, I come bearing gifts.”

From the couch, Emma peeked over the blanket she’d wrapped herself in. Her brown hair was messy from lounging all day, her soft smile spreading as soon as she saw Audrey. “Ugh i love you so much. You’re my hero. What’d you get?”

Audrey set everything on the coffee table and sank down beside her girlfriend, pressing a quick kiss to Emma’s cheek. “Cinnamon rolls, croissants, two lattes. The girl at the café thought I was insane carrying all this while laughing with my friends.”

Emma reached for the latte first, her fingers brushing Audrey’s. “And what were you laughing about?” she asked, raising an eyebrow with that stay-at-home-girlfriend curiosity that Audrey adored.

“Oh my god, the usual,” Audrey said, rolling her eyes dramatically. “Did you know that Sara’s new boyfriend literally thinks Coldplay is edgy? We couldn’t stop talking about it.”

Emma choked on her drink, setting it down so she wouldn’t spill. “That’s tragic. She really downgraded.”

Audrey grinned, leaning back against the couch and tucking her blonde hair behind her ear. “I said the same thing. And then we ran into Melissa, who apparently is still mad about last summer’s barbecue. Like babe, it’s been months, who cares if someone brought store-bought potato salad?”