The café Emily mentioned was smaller than Harvey expected.
It sat between two older buildings, easy to miss if you weren't looking for it. Inside, the lighting was soft and uneven, and the noise never rose above a low hum. It felt like a place people came to slow down without announcing it.
Emily liked it immediately.
"This is nice," she said, sliding into the chair across from him. "I told you."
Harvey nodded, looking around. "Yeah. It is."
They ordered without much discussion. Emily talked while they waited, filling the space easily. Harvey listened, answering when it made sense, letting the rest pass without forcing anything.
It felt familiar.
When the drinks arrived, Emily leaned back and sighed lightly. "Long week."
"Yeah."
She smiled at him. "But you seem… lighter. Less tense."
Harvey considered that. "Maybe I'm just tired in a different way."
Emily laughed softly. "That still counts."
They stayed longer than planned. Long enough for the crowd to thin, for the barista to wipe down the counter without rushing. Nothing important was said. Nothing needed to be.
On the walk back, Emily talked about her parents visiting next month. Harvey listened, nodding, making small comments when appropriate. He didn't feel distracted. He didn't feel pulled in two directions.
For once, his mind stayed where he was.
At the corner where they usually parted, Emily stopped.
"This was good," she said. "We should come back."
"Sure," Harvey replied.
She hesitated, then reached out and lightly tapped his arm. "Don't disappear on me because of the project, okay?"
Harvey smiled faintly. "I won't."
Emily seemed satisfied with that. She waved and headed off, her pace unhurried.
Harvey stood there for a moment after she left, then turned toward home.
The next few days passed the same way.
Work stayed busy but manageable. David sent short updates. Jake handled follow-ups without complaint. Laura's presence stayed minimal, limited to brief confirmations and clean handoffs.
Harvey found himself settling into a rhythm.
He arrived on time. He left on time. He answered what needed answering and let the rest wait. The sense of urgency he used to feel before every small choice stayed quiet.
Emily messaged him once a day, sometimes more. Nothing heavy. Just small check-ins. He replied without delay.
Everything felt balanced.
And yet, sometimes, in the middle of a task or a conversation, Harvey would feel a faint pause inside himself. Like he was observing his own calm from a short distance away.
It didn't last long.
He didn't chase it.
One evening, as he was shutting down his laptop, Jake passed by.
"You settling in?" Jake asked.
"Looks like it."
Jake nodded. "Good. This stuff rewards people who don't panic."
Harvey watched him walk away, then glanced around the office. Most desks were empty now. The lights were dimmer. The place felt quiet, contained.
Safe.
At home, Harvey cooked a simple meal and ate slowly. He checked his phone. A message from Emily sat at the top.
*Did you get home okay?*
*Yeah,* he replied. *You?*
*Just did. Today was nice.*
Harvey stared at the screen for a moment before typing back.
*It was.*
He set the phone down and leaned back on the couch, letting the silence fill the room.
No words appeared.
No warnings came.
Just the steady feeling of things settling into place.
Harvey closed his eyes and let himself rest in that feeling, unaware of how easily comfort could turn into a boundary once it stopped being questioned.