Leah hadn’t officially moved in with Derrick yet, but in all the ways that mattered, she had. The first morning she woke up in his apartment without feeling like a guest, she knew things had changed. It was subtle, the shift from visiting to belonging. Her clothes had claimed a section of his closet, her favorite mug sat next to his in the kitchen, and she no longer hesitated before opening a drawer or grabbing something from the fridge. It had happened gradually, so seamlessly that she almost hadn’t noticed it. But now, as she stood in his bathroom brushing her teeth, she realized how natural it felt.

  Derrick walked in behind her, his arms slipping around her waist as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “Morning,” he murmured sleepily against her skin.

  Leah smiled, meeting his gaze in the mirror. “Morning.”

  She had never been much of a morning person, but there was something about waking up next to Derrick that made everything feel a little easier. She leaned back against him, letting herself enjoy the warmth of his embrace.

  “You’re staying tonight, right?” he asked, voice still laced with sleep.

  Leah hesitated for half a second before nodding. “Yeah. I think I am.”

  She had been bouncing between Derrick’s place and Emily’s apartment for weeks, torn between the comfort of the life she had built with her best friend and the undeniable pull of the new life waiting for her with Derrick. Emily had been supportive, of course—more than supportive. She had practically packed Leah’s bags herself, laughing as she told Leah that she was ready to have the apartment to herself again. But even with Emily’s encouragement, Leah couldn’t shake the feeling that she was standing on the precipice of something unknown, something exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

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  Later that day, Leah found herself back at Emily’s, sorting through her belongings. It was strange, packing up the place that had been her refuge for the past year. Each item she placed in a box carried a memory—late-night talks with Emily, solo movie marathons with a pint of ice cream, the quiet moments when she had just needed to be alone with her thoughts. Leaving felt like the closing of a chapter, and no matter how excited she was to start the next one, she couldn’t ignore the pang of nostalgia.

  Emily plopped onto the couch, watching Leah with an amused expression. “You know, you don’t have to look so tragic about it. It’s not like we’re breaking up.”

  Leah laughed, shoving a throw pillow at her. “I know. It’s just… a lot. I’ve gotten used to this place. To us.”

  Emily softened, reaching over to squeeze Leah’s hand. “Me too. But this is a good thing, Leah. And you know I’ll be over all the time. Derrick’s going to have to deal with me whether he likes it or not.”

  Leah smiled. “I think he’s already accepted that.”

  By the time she finished packing, the sun had begun to set, casting the apartment in a golden glow. Emily helped her carry a few boxes to her car, and as they stood by the trunk, Leah hesitated.

  “This feels weird,” she admitted. “Like I’m leaving something behind.”

  Emily tilted her head. “You’re not leaving anything behind, Leah. You’re just making space for something new.”

  Leah let those words settle as she hugged her best friend tightly. “I love you, Em.”

  Emily squeezed her back. “Love you too, dummy. Now go. Derrick’s waiting.”

  The drive to Derrick’s apartment felt different this time. It wasn’t just another visit—it was a transition, a step forward into something unknown but undeniably right. When she arrived, Derrick was already waiting for her, leaning against the doorway with a soft smile.

  “Hey,” he greeted, his eyes flicking to the boxes in her arms. “So… does this mean what I think it means?”

  Leah exhaled, suddenly feeling lighter. “Yeah. I think it does.”

  Derrick pulled her into his arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Welcome home, Leah.”