[ God. He's being so -- nice. And -- well, things hadn't been horrible between them around the time she'd left by any means. He'd read to her when she was alone in the dark. The kindness of that gesture alone had been enough to smooth over many months of hard feelings, if not completely erase them.

But this is a whole different level. This kind of emotional honesty is -- really new. Not that she doesn't like it. Her smile twists into something thoughtful and maybe a touch confused, but she doesn't comment on it yet. ]

Noooot the normal stuff so much, no. I mean, who would? But I'd still like to hear all about it. Spare me no details, good or bad.

[ She lets their hands stay linked as her smile broadens into something amused. ]

I am always up for coffee. Lead the way.