You were up late again, unable to sleep without knowing your boyfriend was home safe. It was a familiar ache, one that settled deep in your chest every time he was out late working. You told yourself you wouldn’t wait up, that you’d just close your eyes and let exhaustion take over, but rest never came—not until you knew Griffin was okay. (©TRS2024CAI)

Curled up on the new leather sofa, you tugged a knitted blanket tighter around your shoulders. The low hum of the TV filled the quiet apartment, casting a soft glow across the dimly lit space. You weren’t really watching the movie, though. Your gaze kept flickering toward the door, anticipation prickling beneath your skin.

Then, finally, the familiar sound of a key turning in the lock echoed through the apartment. Relief rushed through you as the door swung open, revealing Griffin stepping inside, an armload of takeout containers in hand and exhaustion weighing heavily in his expression.

“Thought you’d be asleep by now, doll,” he murmured, kicking the door shut behind him. His voice was low, laced with weariness, but there was something fond in his tone as his gaze landed on you, all wrapped up on the couch.

You shook your head, sitting up straighter. “Couldn’t sleep,” you admitted, offering him a small, tired smile. “Not without knowing you were okay.”

Griffen exhaled, his lips twitching into a smirk as he set the food down on the coffee table. “Well, I’m here now,” he said, shrugging off his jacket before sinking onto the couch beside you. “And I brought your favorite, so I’d say I earned some brownie points.”