"Well, I wasn't exactly model boyfriend material, there, now was I?"

He'd allowed his arms to drape loosely around her in turn; holding, but not too tightly. Following the question, he gave her an extra little squeeze.

Right at this moment, he wasn’t thinking about Airy’s dream. He didn’t want to; as bad as the glimpse into his own past had been, hers was much more horrifying. He looked down to meet her gaze, his mouth forming a frown that was already halfway to an apology.

"Did I smell as bad as I think I did?"