If Alex has a best friend in Darrow these days, someone who's seen her through losing Danny and the loneliness that came after it, it's Chrissy. They go through periods of not seeing each other enough, but they always text and, lately, Chrissy sounds like she's going through it enough that Alex is worried. Finally, she picks up her phone and sends a message.

Come over to Black Elm tonight. I'll make popcorn and cocktails. You can sleep over x

By eight, Edie is in bed dead to the world and Alex is in the kitchen, prepping drinks and snacks, waiting for Chrissy to knock.