Madeline thought she'd scooted over once it was time for them to go to sleep. Yet when she awoke, she was on her side, with her hand on his chest and his arm sprawled across hers.

His steady breaths were like a melody. When he released a breath, it made this puff sound that immediately drew a smile to her face. Madeline silently reprimanded herself for wishing she could listen to that sound forever, but she already had a heavy scolding coming to her.

The adorable sounds weren't the only thing she acknowledged. The way his hand felt against her skin, leaving her arm in goosebumps. How her own felt against his chest, or rather what it felt. There were too many differences in him to fully take in yesterday.

Physically, he had little in common with the boy she knew. There were things not even time could alter, but besides those, he seemed like a different person. Until he smiled. He had so many of them, but when he laid eyes on her for the first time in years, and smiled up at her, it was with her favorite one, because there was no sadness hidden behind it.

Knowing he hadn't slept well this week, or in general since last she heard, he still had nightmares, Madeline pressed a quick kiss against his shoulder, and glided out of bed as discreetly as she could so as not to wake him. She felt guilty for leaving him there, seeing as she'd be disappointed if it were the other way around, but they'd already slept for nine hours, and if she was going to spend time with him this weekend, she needed to get her assignments completed.

After grabbing her laptop and phone, Madeline trotted down the steps, and after a quick trip to the restroom on the second floor, continued her journey to the main level of the house. She could already smell the coffee as she finished her descent, and saw Kendra sitting in the living room in silence with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Kendra was easily her favorite roommate. As much as Madeline loved Eva, nothing beat how calm and collected Kendra always was. She never made much noise, even when she was drunk. She always did the dishes and cleaned up after herself. That, and she was an outstanding study buddy.

"Morning," Madeline called over her shoulder as she headed to the kitchen to grab her own cup of coffee.

"Good morning. I got an interesting text message from Eva last night," Kendra said, more chipper than usual.

Madeline didn't doubt that her having male company over shot through the gossip grapevine.

"I bet."

"Make sure I'm here the next time he comes over," Kendra ordered. "I'll be impressed if he ends up being even half as gorgeous as she claims."

Madeline made her way into the living room and sat herself in the chair before turning her cell back on. "She didn't exaggerate, but don't you dare tell Eva or Elijah I said that."

Kendra's lips curved up in a devious smile she'd never seen before. "So, not a onetime visit from Mr. Gorgeous, huh?"

Something told her that Eva hadn't gone into detail about how she and Mr. Gorgeous knew one another. Eva had only known herself because of the picture Madeline had of the two of them over the two years they had roomed in a dorm together. The girl forced the story out of her over the first several months.

But the more people Madeline told about him, the less it felt like he belonged only to her. Not that he did, regardless. "He's still upstairs. I can't imagine him being able to sleep much longer."

"So, does that mean he's your new boyfriend?" Kendra asked, seeming to have an emotional investment in this situation, despite her lack of interest in her personal life before.

Madeline took her first sip of coffee before answering. "No."

"A booty call?"

Madeline shook her head before taking another drink.

"Is he single?"

Honestly, Madeline hadn't even thought to ask. She couldn't imagine him sleeping next to her if he was dating another, even if it had been with innocent intentions.

Once she heard heavier footsteps descending the staircase, Madeline kept her mouth shut from further conversation with Kendra.

"Good morning, sunshine," Madeline sang out, just as Elijah made his grand appearance.

"Mother of all that's holy."

Madeline turned toward her friend just in time to see her cover her mouth. How he looked just as good after sleeping for hours as he did last night was a mystery. If Madeline fell asleep without braiding her hair first, she woke up looking like a chia pet.

Elijah gave Kendra a shy half-wave before looking over at Madeline. "I've got to go grab my glasses from the car. I'll be back in a minute," he told her before making his way to the door. "Not cool sneaking out, by the way. I nearly had a heart attack, thinking I had just dreamt it up. I'm getting a do-over tonight."

As soon as he closed the door, Kendra ripped her gaze away and looked at her. "I'd let him do me over."

"What happened to the sweet, quiet girl I loved so much?" Madeline asked her.

"He did," she told her. "Eva messaged me all this crap and forced me to become interested in something I normally wouldn't give a shit about. Anticipations built, and that man delivered. Does he go to our school? Because he looks a little older."

Before Madeline could answer, her phone rang beside her, showing 'mom & dad' on the screen. She accepted the call, ignoring Kendra's sudden interest. "Hey, what's up?"

"I just wanted to check on you, sweety," her mom told her. "I know yesterday was a disappointment for all of us, but it seemed to hit you pretty hard."

"It did. But I felt better once I got home, so no worries."

The front door opened again, showing Elijah looking even better than before. Glasses were a secret fetish she'd take to the grave. "Hey, mind if I grab a coffee?"

Madeline mouthed the word 'mom' nice and slow so Elijah could understand, noticing a wide grin take over his face.

"Honey, do you have a boy with you?"

She put her mom on speaker phone as Elijah made his way over and sat on the arm of the couch.

"I wouldn't call him a boy. I think it's safe to say he's all man."

Elijah's eyes narrowed on her, but she could see a small corner of his mouth turn up at the comment.

"Well, don't say shit like that around your father, or you'll give him a heart attack. So, I take it he's good looking."

"Eh," was her only response, causing Elijah to give her a shove after stealing her mug of coffee. "I mean, I wouldn't kick him out of bed."

"Sweetheart, your love life is non-existent. I'm surprised he made it into your bed to begin with."

"Your mom's got some good burns," Kendra said with a laugh.

"Am I on speakerphone, Maddie?"

Elijah took a drink of her coffee before doing a nod toward her phone, and Madeline could only assume he was giving her the go ahead.

"Seeing as I'm going to have this guy in my life for a long time, I thought the two of you might want to talk."

"Way to put me on the spot, kid."

"We were actually wondering if you maybe wanted to come up for dinner tonight?"

"So, things are serious, then?" Her mom asked, not waiting for an answer. "It's a long drive, honey. I don't really feel up to being in the car that long just for a dinner."

"Not even for me?" Elijah asked.

"Who is that?"

"I'll give you three guesses," Madeline told her mom, "but if you give it some thought, you'll only need one."

Her mom was quiet for a few moments. When those moments ended, she was anything but quiet. "You're not fucking serious? Are you serious? "

Elijah laughed and handed Madeline back her coffee. "Hey, Mary."

Then her mom hung up. They both looked at the phone for a good thirty seconds before it rang again, and Madeline accepted the call, pressing on the speaker right away.

"Your dad and I will be there in an hour."

"It's a two and a half hour drive," Madeline reminded her.

"Not this time," her mom told her. "Elijah, let me hear your voice one more time."

Elijah shook his head, but the humor seemed to fade from his face. "Take your time, Mary. I'm not going anywhere. I love you, and I'll see you soon."

"Oh, my sweet boy, I love you too."

Then she hung up again.

"I'm going to have to figure out how to explain this weekend to my professor," Madeline told him. "You think I can get away with saying a family friend died?"

"A family friend did die, didn't they?" Kendra asked.

This one conversation was honestly the most she'd ever divulged her personal life to her roommate.

"Not really," Elijah told her. "I think everyone who went just wanted to make sure my father was really dead."

"Or to see if you showed." Madeline pointed out.

"Nah, I had more important places to be."

It was too sweet a comment to point out that it took Elijah longer to see her because he hadn't gone to the funeral.