Ethan picked Diane up from work just as the sun was beginning to soften, the harsh afternoon light giving way to something gentler. She saw his car first through the glass doors of the building—parked neatly by the curb, hazard lights blinking once, twice, like a quiet announcement of his arrival.
Her colleagues were still filtering out, laughing, checking phones, dragging the day behind them. Diane hesitated for a moment, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder, smoothing her skirt unconsciously. When she stepped outside, Ethan was already out of the car.
He smiled when he saw her.
Not the loud, flashy kind of smile—just calm, easy, sincere.
“Hey,” he said, his voice warm. “Long day?”
She exhaled softly. “You have no idea.”
He opened the passenger door for her, and that small
