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I remove myself from Drew’s heavy sleeping form and scoot out from the couch. He doesn’t even stir. The man sleeps like a rock.

With my hand, I gesture for David to follow me downstairs so we don’t wake the others.

Once we’re at the bottom of the stairs, David looks me over. “I got your text late and stopped by your apartment to make sure you were okay. You weren’t here, and the door to the stairway was open.” He pauses and shuffles his weight awkwardly from one foot to the other. “I didn’t mean to be nosey. I just got worried when neither you or Drew responded to my texts and went upstairs to see if everyone was alright. You were all asleep, and I was going to turn around and leave, but I just—” His voice falters.

“You just what?” I urge him to continue.

He looks down at his feet, then back up at me. “You looked so peaceful, Soph. Happy. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you look so happy.” He smiles. “You guys looked like a family, falling asleep after a movie night. It was … beautiful.”

He clears his throat and straightens his shoulders, almost like he’s proving his own manliness to himself after having an emotional moment.

I smile at his sweet words. “I feel happy. More like myself lately. But that wasn’t what it looked like … I was so sick, and Drew offered to help with Samantha since Mom and Dad are gone. Penny also got sick, so the three of them were watching movies. I went to check on Samantha, and then Drew got sick. So I stayed to help, and we were all so tired, we must’ve just conked out.”

“I wasn’t accusing you of anything.” He puts his hands in his pockets. Only David would still be wearing dress pants and a button-down shirt at 10:45 p.m. “I know I overreacted when you first moved in here, but if Drew is the one putting that look of peaceful contentment on your face, then I’m all for it.”

My face turns bright red, making David chuckle. “Sorry, your love life isn’t my business. Are you all good here, though? Can I get you guys anything?”

“I think we’re all good now, but thank you for stopping to check on us.”

“Alright, well, goodnight then.”

After seeing David out, and locking up the house, I tiptoe back up to the couch and squeeze myself back into my comfortable spot between Samantha, Drew, and now Penny, who has scooted over to cuddle up against her daddy.