Kate walked out of the house, the heavy conversation with Deimon lingering in her mind. She made her way toward Joey's bar, where she knew Gandal would be.
Immediately she left, Deimon followed her from a distance. As she pushed open the door at Joey's, Gandal saw her and his face lit up.
"Kate," he greeted warmly, his easy smile a welcome relief from the tension of the morning.
"Hey, Gandal," she replied, trying to muster a smile.
Gandal sensed her unease and guided her to a quieter corner of the bar. "What's on your mind?"
Kate took a deep breath. "This morning was... rough. Deimon and I had a serious talk. There's so much to figure out."
Gandal nodded, understanding. "I get it, Kate. But I need to tell you something."
He looked her straight in the eyes, his expression earnest. "I
