He didn’t hear you walk in. Not until your shadow brushed across the floor and he lifted his head.

His expression softened instantly.

“Oh… hi,” he said quietly, like seeing you eased him

His eyes lingered on you longer than usual—warm, cautious, like he was trying not to stare but couldn’t help it.

“You can sit,” he added, voice a little shy as he brushed a thumb across the edge of his glasses. “If you want. I—I don’t mind the company.”

When you sat beside him, he let out the smallest breath, shoulders relaxing.

His hand rested close to yours on the couch—close enough that the heat of his skin reached you, but not close enough to touch unless you moved first