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I walked away before I could utter anything further damaging. But then I lost my balance again on my way up the stairs.

The next thing I knew, Rafe had swooped me up and was carrying me upstairs to my apartment.

I could feel his breath on my face as he spoke. “I think we need to get you hydrated and a little sober before you attempt to climb stairs again.”

I dug out my key and handed it to him. Rafe opened the door. The room started to spin as he put me down, and I was still seeing two of him. Though two Rafes were better than one.

I suppressed a giggle. “I feel dizzy, Rafe.”

“It’s okay. You’ll be fine.”

“No, I feel like I might pass out.”

He lifted me again and carried me over to the sofa. He placed a pillow behind my head and reached for a knit throw, pulling it over me.

I looked up at him, his face hazy. “What if you hadn’t found me? I might’ve died on those stairs…”

“You wouldn’t have. You’d feel like shit, and a mouse might’ve crawled over you. But you wouldn’t have died.”

I put my hands over my face. “I think a mouse crawling over me would be worse than death!”

He chuckled and adjusted the blanket.

“Are you gonna stay here?” I asked.

“Until I know you’re okay. You might vomit. I also don’t trust that you won’t stand up and fall again.”

“I’ll be okay if you want to leave,” I slurred.

Rafe didn’t say anything. He just sat on the couch by my feet.

For some reason, I looked up at the ceiling and started rambling. “I’ve felt so lonely since I got here, Rafe. Some days I don’t know what I was thinking moving to New York.” I paused. “The only times I don’t feel lonely are when I’m with you.” I turned to him. “But Calder deserves better than a girlfriend who’s fixated on another man.”

That was the last thing I said before I passed out.

***

The following morning, I woke to the smell of coffee.

For a moment, I panicked. What time is it? Where am I?

My head pounded as I slowly sat up and realized I was back in my bed.

I vaguely remembered Rafe carrying me into the apartment last night, but I couldn’t quite recall what had happened after that.

This wasn’t good. Almost as soon as I meandered into the living area, still wearing what I’d had on yesterday, there was a light knock on the door. Then it opened.

“Hey…” Rafe said as he entered the apartment. “Hope you don’t mind. I have a spare key.”

“Of course not.” I shook my head, carefully. “What happened last night?”

“You don’t remember anything?”

I scratched my head. “I remember coming back to the apartment and stumbling on the stairs. I remember you carrying me up here, but I don’t know how I ended up in my bed.”

He nodded. “You passed out on the couch, and I carried you. I’ve been checking on you through the night, and I made some coffee a little while ago, so it’d be ready for you when you got up.”

“Thank you, Rafe,” I said, feeling ashamed. “I’m sorry I was such a mess.”