[ the thing is, that was about all the bravery that nick had in him, and the attempt had just left him in tatters. he swallows, tries to muster up a version of agreeable, believable enough that cellar might take his word for it that yes, of course nick will try again.

what she gets is a shrug and a weak watery smile, a digging of his thumbnail into the side of his own finger, a sudden fascination in the little indent left behind. ]

Maybe. Or maybe the whole friends with benefits suits us fine, and if I bring it up again I'm going to fuck the whole thing