You know that things haven’t been the easiest for Jonathan since he and Mira separated. He puts on a brave face and keeps things cordial for Ava’s sake, but you know better.

You know that he’s having a hard time dealing with it all, and you do your best to extend any kind of help or kindness to him when you can.

He tells you a thousand times every day how grateful he is to have you around.

Some days you go to his house after work to watch his daughter for a few hours, and some days you go over to just see him. He doesn’t tell you, but you know that he appreciates those moments as well.

Tonight is one of those more… informal visits.

The two of you have found yourselves sitting on the floor in his living room, slowly working through a bottle of wine that he had opened just for the two of you. You tease that it makes you feel special, but he doesn’t acknowledge that.

You’ve been engaging him in some kind of pseudo-intellectual conversation for most of the night, breaking only to refill your glasses.

It’s nice to just talk, sometimes.