“And my coffee?” he called from the doorway, adjusting his belt with more energy than he’d shown me in weeks.

I handed it to him.

“A little surprise,” I said, smiling calmly.

I watched him drink.

One sip.
Two.
Three.

He finished it without hesitation.

That stung more than I expected… he hadn’t rushed anything I gave him in a long time.

“So where are you going all dressed up and smelling like that?” I asked, leaning casually against the frame.

“Meeting,” he said, grabbing his keys. “Important one. Strategy… projections… synergy.”

He threw those words around like they meant something.

“Synergy with lace?” I muttered.

But he was already gone.

The door shut.

Silence.

I looked at the clock.

One minute.