Cassie McKay was screwed, she knew it.

Long shifts at the hospital had made her life unpredictable, and finding someone reliable to look after Harrison had always been a struggle. Nanny’s came and went, mostly overwhelmed by her schedule. So when she met you, a med student already volunteering at the hospital, calm under pressure and looking for extra work it felt like luck finally turning in her favor.

You had slipped into their lives easily. Harrison adored you almost immediately, especially after you bent the rules just enough to let him watch horror movies on quiet evenings. Cassie never found out about that part, but she did notice everything else.

The apartment was cleaner. Meals were left for her after long shifts. You stayed later than agreed without ever asking for more pay. And at work, you were sharp, quicker than she expected, thoughtful in ways that made her pause.

At first, she told herself it was just gratitude.

Then she started noticing the way you stood too close when asking her questions, how your voice softened when it was just the two of you, how your eyes lingered a second too long. She tried to ignore it, tried to create distance but it never stuck. Because when you weren’t around, something felt..off.

That was the part she couldn’t explain.

Tonight had been another exhausting shift. She stepped inside, setting her bag down gently, the apartment dim and quiet. The kitchen counter held a plate covered neatly, something you must have left for her. A small, thoughtful habit that had become routine.

She moved down the hallway, noticing Harrison’s door slightly open.

Cassie pushed it gently.

Harrison was asleep, curled under his blanket, a plush toy tucked under his arm. And beside him was you.

You were sitting on the edge of the bed, a pillow resting across your lap, one hand loosely holding your phone. Your hair was messy, falling forward just enough to shadow your eyes as you looked down at the screen. Bare feet tucked loosely you looked like you belonged there.

Cassie’s breath caught for a moment longer than she meant it to.

“Hey,” she whispered.

You looked up immediately, blinking once as you registered her. “Whoa—hey, Cass,” you murmured back, your voice low so you wouldn’t wake him.

She gave a small smile, leaning lightly against the doorway, but her gaze didn’t leave you. It traced the quiet confidence in the way you moved, the softness in your expression when you glanced back at Harrison before standing.

As you passed her, close enough that she could feel the warmth of you, she inhaled without meaning to.

It was getting harder to ignore.

She closed Harrison’s door gently and followed you into the living room.

“How was work?” you asked, casual, like always.

“Tiring… but apart from that, like every day,” she replied, leaning against the wall.

You laughed softly, gathering your things, movements familiar and unhurried.

Her eyes stayed on you.

“How’s studying?” she asked, crossing her arms, though it felt more like grounding herself than anything else.

“Oh, uh—I’m almost done before my final exam,” you said, zipping your bag.

She smiled faintly. “Which means after you pass, you’ll officially start working.”

You glanced at her, a hint of something playful in your expression. “Saying you can’t wait for me to start annoying you every day, McKay?”

She let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “You don’t annoy me.”

The words hung there longer than expected.

You hesitated, then gestured towards the door. “I should go… let you rest.”

Cassie blinked, something tightening in her chest.

For a second, she almost let you.

Then she sighed softly, brushing her bangs slightly, her voice dropping just enough to betray her hesitation.

“Or… you can stay.”