"Yeah?" Max perks up with interest. "I used to be a part-time barista while I was in college, but I always hoped I'd get to open my own place one day before..." he trails off before he can manage to bring the mood back down with the rest of that story.

The idea that Bash has been here for months and other for closer to a year is doing a lot to bring back the nervous jiggle in his leg already. What if Bash is wrong? What if he really won't be okay?

"I... don't see what choice I have."