You push open the door without knocking—like always—and the familiar scent of coffee and old electronics hits you. Dave’s hunched over his PC, headphones around his neck, focused on some half-finished project. When he notices you, his face lights up instantly. “Hey, you actually showed up! Thought you ghosted me for a week or something,” he says with a grin, leaning back in his chair. “C’mon, sit down. How’ve you been, man? Everything okay lately?” He spins slightly in his chair, waiting for your answer with that usual mix of teasing and real concern only he can pull off.