x addict, I might've laughed. Or blinked in confusion. But life is full of odd, unscripted moments-like

a dark brow at me as I took another bite. "

id through a mouthful. "It

t. "It's what happens when someone's afraid of c

That was a lot of judgment from someone who literally

d, smug. "Consist

ered, wiping crumbs off my l

the half-eaten muffin like it had personally

id proudly, "and not bou

like something a ban

ee of the shadow I sometimes saw in his eyes when he thought I wasn't looking. I hadn

what's your excuse for working through your lunch hour again?

who don't know how calendars work," I sai

orning in a group meeting where a guy cried about sl

. "Wait,

rase he used was-and I quote-'I fell

.. wow. That's both

but it's real for him. That's the tricky part of recovery. Most of it

, like steam fading from a window. I

l, grateful glanc

. There was always a current of something light tugging us back-jokes, s

er, smiling at him over my cup. "Your muffin opinions. Your profe

"I love dogs. Especially the sm

like Chi

e emotionally ch

let himself be like this-unguarded, relaxed. His humor had an edge

ent, then said, more soft

wh

ighter. Easier. Eve

hest like a warm weight. "Maybe

for a heartbeat too l

uld pretend wasn't anything, but deep down, knew was th

ed awa

ld I save you from more muffin trauma and br

ocolate chip," he said firmly.

ep that

ather my things

s I have a secret double life bec

d. "Maybe you're secre

" I said. "I ea

me the rest of the day. The kind that played over in my he

ly. Not rushed. Not loud. But steady. Like two people dan

w what it me

was the most fun I'd