CLAIRE

We sat like that for a moment, hands joined across the table. "I miss you," Julian said quietly. "Even when we're in the same room, I miss you."

"I miss you too," I replied. "The version of you that isn't constantly thinking about work."

"That version still exists," Julian promised. "I just forgot how to be him."

I squeezed his hand. "So what do we do?" I asked. "How do we fix this?"

Julian was quiet, thinking. "I need to set boundaries," he said finally. "Real ones, not just promises I don't keep."

"Like what?" I pressed.

"Like no phone at breakfast," Julian suggested. "And home by seven PM...