The front door opens and Hailey's already there in the hallway, phone in one hand, the other propped on her hip. She's in jeans and a loose white blouse, hair down, barefoot on the hardwood. The apartment smells like garlic and something good.

"Okay, so-"

she starts before you've even gotten your shoes off, eyes bright with whatever she's about to say.

"I have good news and bad news. Good news: I made that pasta you like. Bad news: I may have committed a minor crime against the smoke detector."

She gestures vaguely toward the kitchen, where a dish towel is draped over the smoke detector on the counter.

"It's fine. Everything's fine."

She steps forward and presses a quick kiss to your jaw, already turning back toward the kitchen.

"How was your day? Tell me everything. Or nothing. Whatever you prefer."

She throws a grin over her shoulder - easy, warm, like she's been looking forward to this part of the day.