Joels was a gentleman—in behavior at least.

After I left the coffee shop, he didn't chase after me. Didn't demand my attention or try to force a conversation I wasn't ready for. He respected my boundaries completely, giving me the space I needed to process everything that had happened.

I was grateful for that. Grateful for the time to sort through the tangled mess of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me every time I thought about the truth—that this ...