�I went to my first meeting today.�

�Congratulations.� She resisted the urge to say something smart and sarcastic.

�I found a sponsor.�

�That�s great, Harry.� Diane was standing by the door, holding on to the handle. She looked uncomfortable, on edge.

�Can I invite myself in for coffee?�

�That�s not a good idea.�

Harry looked down at the floor. �I know. I was hoping there was something I might do to renew our friendship. I abused you badly last night, and you didn�t deserve that. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to feel loved and appreciated. And I offered you cruelty instead.�

Diane�s tears returned, and she rubbed the back of her neck while she listened to him. �Harry, we all deserve to be loved and appreciated. We all do.�

�Before I go, I would like to hug you,� Harry said. Diane nodded her assent.

Slowly, they wrapped their arms around one another. Diane breathed deeply, and she could feel Harry doing the same. She felt so comfortable in his arms, and she remembered how perfectly they fit together. She managed to embrace him tighter, and buried her face in his neck. He put his hand on her head and stroked her hair gently. Every cell in her body was alive and on fire. She cursed herself, cursed her body for betraying her, for wanting him so desperately.

�I love you, Diane.� That was the first time he'd uttered those words out loud. Diane started crying. She wanted that to be true, so badly. At the same time, she felt like she was on the upward track of the roller coaster, and she knew that, at least on the roller coaster, what goes up must eventually come back down, hard, fast and jarring.

�Damn you, Harry. Damn you. Damn you, Harry,� Diane sobbed. He rocked her gently, rubbing her back. When she calmed, she noticed he was sniffling and wiping his own tears, too. She raised her face to his, and rubbed his cheeks with her thumb. He leaned his face into her hand, closing his eyes. She studied his face, and found it to be more beautiful than before. His eyelashes were long, his lips well-defined and sensual. She longed to feel them on her lips again, and before she could stop herself, she was kissing him.

For a second, Harry�s eyes flew open in surprise, and he stopped moving his hands. A second later, he closed his eyes and pulled her closer, kissing her hungrily. Harry would have run straight for the bedroom, but he knew Diane had to determine how far she wanted this to go.