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“It might.”

Avery glanced around the office. “Seems structurally sound.”

“For now.”

“I’m serious, Claire. You’re still ambitious, you’re still excellent at your job, and nobody works harder than you. You’re just not treating exhaustion like proof that you care anymore.”

Claire looked down at the lid of her coffee. A year ago, she would have dismissed the comment. Working late had felt necessary. Impressive, even. Like every extra hour proved she deserved the life she had worked so hard to build.

Now she mostly thought about cold takeout and the text Noah would eventually send asking whether she remembered dinner existed.

“I’m realizing that,” she admitted.

Avery smiled. “Look at you. Personal growth before nine in the morning.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

“I would never.”

Avery reached for the framed photo on Claire’s desk. It was one Noah’s mom had taken of them when they were “fake dating” and spent the weekend in Saratoga Springs.

“Have you told your parents about him?”

Claire looked back at her screen. “Not really.”

“Not really means?”

“They know I’m seeing someone.”

“Do they know his name?”

“Probably.”

Avery stared at her.

“I’m not hiding him,” Claire said. “I just don’t call them to give life updates.”

“Because they dissect every decision until it sounds like a mistake?”

Claire sighed. “When I told them I got this job, my mother asked whether Manhattan rent was worth it before she said congratulations.”

Avery’s mouth tightened. She had heard enough versions of that response over the years.

“They’re not bad people,” Claire added. “They’re just practical.”

“There’s practical, and then there’s making somebody defend every happy decision they make.”

Claire looked toward the photograph again. “They wouldn’t understand Noah.”

“They don’t need to understand him.”

“That sounds healthy.”

“They need to respect that you’re happy. Those are different things.”

Claire was quiet.

Avery leaned back in the chair. “You don’t have to keep offering people pieces of your happiness when they only know how to inspect them.”