"No," Marcus says, which is the truth, but he says it so embarrassingly urgently — don't go — that it sounds almost frantic. He grimaces, rubs his face. "No, you really ain't. Uh — "

And then he laughs. More of that tension unwinding. "Jesus — wait. Sorry. We both thought we were avoiding each other? So we both decided to avoid each other back?" That's stupid. That's incredible, bad movie stupid. The corners of his mouth tremble into a broad, fondly exasperated smile. It comes across in his voice. "I was — I had to work, but I was...thinking about you."