[The corner of his lip twitched when she laughed, and he appreciated that they could humor each other. After that little bump in the road about thinking their dark thoughts when alone, this levity was circling them back to the best portions of the date thus far. He was pleased they could even maintain it this long.

Somehow he never felt awkwardness with Maria. She was still very much a new person to him and while he was a good judge of character, he couldn't say that he knew much about her.] Oh, don't raise my hopes. You might never be rid of me then.

[He wrinkled his nose; home decor was never much in the cards for him. He'd decorated a bar, which was such a low standard.] I have no idea. I expect you badger your friends or random strangers to let you do their places. How you account for individual tastes is not an undertaking I'd want.