—What about Tom?

—He’s gone

After some silence, she smiled.

—I didn’t give a fuck before, but after Tom died, I really didn’t give any fucks anymore. All those fucks died with him. Then I was truly free to do whatever I wanted.

He was startled for a few moments.
—how many people have you slept with?

—I don’t have anything, if you’re worried about that. [silence] Also, I’m missing the key equipment to make babies, so…

He was learning more than he’d expected.

—Come downstairs, I’ll make coffee.

By the time he’d come down and leaned against the counter, she was boiling water, grinding beans, and cleaning a French press.

—You sure take your coffee seriously for someone who ’doesn’t give a fuck’.

She smiled.
—This makes the best coffee.

When it was ready, she got 35% cream out of the fridge.
—Do you put heavy cream in your coffee? It’s awesome.

When he finally sipped his coffee, he gave her a bright look, as if a switch had been turned on in his head.
—That is the best coffee I’ve ever had.