= Chris POV =
Amber and I both froze when we heard a voice behind us.
"Unbelievable," Ruby snapped, arms crossed as she leaned against the wall, glaring at us. "I can't have you two are sulking around like this while on shift. Marilyn told me you weren't feeling well, Chris, so I came, looking to give you a day off, and here I find you drinking alcohol-laced coffee on the job. Do either of you have a death wish, or are you just trying to make a mockery of this café?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but Ruby slammed her hand down on the bar, cutting me off.
"Enough. Either you both go home, or you resign. I won't tolerate this behavior from my top chef and barista."
Amber and I exchanged sheepish looks before nodding in unison. Sliding off the stool, I stumbled slightly, my balance compromised by whatever Amber had spiked our coffee with.
"What about my car?" I muttered as I tried to steady myself.
Ruby groaned and grabbed my arm. "You're in no state to drive, idiot. I'll take you home. You too, Amber. Let's go." She pulled Amber out from behind the counter and steered us both toward the back exit. "I can't believe the two of you—crying drunkards, on shift. I'll have to pull in favors just to keep this place running tonight."
Ruby herded us into her car, her movements brisk and irritated. She drove Amber home first, walking her up to her apartment and unlocking the door with Amber's keys before helping her inside.
"Stay here, sleep it off," Ruby ordered before shutting the door and heading back to the car. The drive to my place was quieter, but the air between us was thick with tension. By the time we reached my building, I could barely stay upright.
Ruby grabbed my arm and helped me out of the passenger's seat. She held me up and walked us to my lift, managing to get me all the way to my front door. I accidentally dropped my keys and tried to reach for them, the world swirling around as I did so.
"Damn it, Chris, you're stepping on your keys," Ruby snapped, crouching down to retrieve them just as the door to my apartment opened.
Sarah stood there, framed in the doorway, her face a mixture of surprise and concern. "Hi, Sarah!" I grinned, the alcohol making my head spin faster. Before I could say more, my knees buckled, and I sank to the floor.
"She's drunk out of her mind," Ruby said, her tone sharp. "Do you know what's going on with her? She started drinking on shift—totally out of character."
I tried to protest, but the room was spinning too fast, and—was that a dolphin swimming by? I lurched forward, chasing the imaginary creature, only to be yanked back by Ruby.
"She's never behaved like this before," Ruby pressed, her voice a low murmur as Sarah helped pull me into the apartment. "I don't know what's going on, but she's not fit for work. Tell her she's got the week off to get her act together. Sorry to drop this on you, but I've got to get back to the café."
Ruby left, the door slammed shut behind her.
Standing in my apartment, I suddenly felt cold and dead inside. The apartment was silent except for my muffled sobs. I sank to the floor again, pulling off my hairnet and tie, burying my face in my hands. "I don't want to be here," I mumbled. "There's nothing here left for me."
Warm hands touched my arms, pulling them away from my face. I blinked up at Sarah, her expression soft but unreadable. "Hey," she said gently. "If you come with me, I'll let you hold me for a little while."
My breath hitched. Was I dreaming? This couldn't be real….Sarah hated me now. She hated my touch…she would never agree to this… But I nodded, allowing myself to be pulled to my feet. She led me to my bedroom, her hand firm and steady on mine.
When we reached the bed, I kicked off my shoes and flopped onto the mattress, arms wide open, waiting for her to join me.
She didn't. Instead she walked away, and then I felt arms wrap around me from behind, pulling me close. I flinched, startled by the unfamiliar sensation, and started to pull away.
"Shhh," Sarah whispered, her voice soft by my ear. "It's me. I've got you. Just calm down."
I froze, her words sinking in. But then the doubt crept back in, sharp and overwhelming. "No, you're not here," I choked out, tears spilling down my cheeks. "Sarah hates me. She's going to leave me. It's all over—I've ruined everything."
The arms around me loosened, and for a moment, I thought she was leaving. But then she shifted, turning me onto my back. I felt her weight settle against me, her hand pressing gently against my chest. "I'm here," she said softly. "I've always been here. I don't hate you, Chris. I just... I need time to figure out how I feel about you. But for now, it's okay. Just like old times, remember? When you used to trick me into being your little spoon?" Her voice lightened, almost teasing. "Well, you win again. Enjoy your prize."
She guided my arm across her, pulling me into a familiar embrace. Her scent, her warmth—it was all unmistakably Sarah. My Sarah.
I buried my face in her hair, inhaling deeply as the weight of the day melted away. "Thank you," I whispered, barely audible. Within moments, exhaustion claimed me, and I drifted into a dreamless sleep.