Caden wouldn't be coming to pick her up, and staying out any later wouldn't be safe.

As she unlocked her apartment door, a thought crossed her mind: Was Caden home?

With his temperament, he was unlikely to come home early after an argument - maybe not at all.

Still, she moved quietly, out of habit.

A dim lamp cast a soft glow in the entryway, making her heart skip a beat. Was he actually here?

It didn't seem possible.

Slipping off her shoes, she cleared her throat gently, testing the silence.

In an instant, Cade bounded out of the room, tail wagging and tongue out.

He circled Alicia's legs and jumped up into her arms.

Nearly losing her balance, she let out a small laugh and hugged him, settling into a chair while shushing him softly.

Cade, ever obedient, quieted down immediately, his eyes locked on hers.

Alicia whispered, “Is your dad home?"

Cade tilted its head, clearly puzzled by Alicia's question.

With a sigh, Alicia instructed the dog to be quiet.

The house was still, enveloped in silence.

It seemed Caden really wasn't home.

The light in the entryway must have been left on from the morning — a habit they both had.

Relief washed over her, mixed with a twinge of sadness.

Was this how it always played out? Should they just spend days of avoiding each other, only to pretend nothing had happened when they eventually crossed paths again?

The days that followed were lonely. Alicia spent each night alone, her annoyance giving way to longing.

At first, she missed him and the sound of his voice.

But soon, she found the situation almost absurd.

With Caden's unyielding pride, she knew he would never be the one to make the first move.

He would rather enjoy the quiet distance than confront their problems.