Mal heard that familiar voice and a smile came to her face without any effort. Biting her lip, she turned and looked at Ed with a wave. “Hey gorgeous,” she started. Yeah, he’d been around the night before, but Mal had been so tired from the lack of sleep over the past few days that he’d just… put her out and they’d gone to sleep. Now, though, fully rested and much, much more at ease, Mal was more than happy that things appeared to be okay again.
He took her hand and she twined their fingers happily, the warmth of his hand providing a welcome calm to her. Even if he wasn’t trying, he calmed her right down like it was nothing. Turning into him, she put a hand to his face and kissed him softly. “Those flowers made my week, just so you know.”
She waved goodbye to her boss and ducked out the door, hand still locked with Ed’s. Yes, it was still a little chilly, and the cold night air bit at her legs a little bit, but as long as she was with Ed, Mal couldn’t be happier. Things are okay. Not beyond repair, she told herself. “How was class?” she asked. Start with small-talk. She didn’t want to jump right into what she had to say. She wanted to feel things out first. Test his mood. Maybe she would. She was just… a little afraid. Putting herself on the line like this wasn’t something Mal took lightly, especially not with the result the last time she did it.