"He is. And I appreciate it."
We finish coffee in silence. Comfortable. Easy. Nothing like the tension that's defined us for months.
"I should get some work done," I say. "Shop inventory. Orders. The usual."
"Need help?"
"You have your own work."
"Most of it's done. And I'd rather spend the day with you than staring at code."
Something warm spreads through my chest. "Okay. But I'm putting you to work."
"Wouldn't expect anything else."
We drive to the shop together. His truck parked next to my car in the alley. Out in the open. No hiding.
Inside, I show him the inventory system, he picks it up quickly, and types numbers while I count stock. We work side by side for hours. That radio is playing, coffee is brewing. A normal Monday morning except it's not normal at all.
Around noon, the door chimes. I look up expecting a customer.
It's Luke.
He stops when he sees us. Takes in the scene. Ethan at my computer. Me counting boxes. Both of us comfortable in the space.
"Hey," Luke says.
"Hey," we say together.
"Just checking in. Making sure you're both still alive."
"We're alive," I tell him.
He nods. Looks at Ethan. "You staying in town?"
"Yeah. Finishing the Denver job remotely. Figured I'd be more useful here."
"Good. That's good." Luke shifts his weight. Clearly uncomfortable. "Listen, about last night, I was a bit harsh."
"You had every right to be," Ethan says.
"Maybe, but I could've handled it better. You're both adults. You don't need my permission to be together."
"We wanted your blessing," I tell him. "That mattered to us."
"You have it. You've always had it. I just wish you'd trusted that."
"We do now," Ethan says quietly.
Luke looks between us. Something in his expression softens. "Yeah, I can see that."
He leaves after a few more minutes of awkward small talk. The door closes behind him, and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"That wasn't so bad," Ethan says.
"He's trying."
"We all are."
