The way she initially responds to him, he's pretty sure that she's telling him that no she does not want to date him. He had never in his life felt so inept in interacting with a woman. Usually it was all too easy to turn on the charm, put on his show of tough, charming guy and get a good time out of it. Right now, he was flailing in a way he never had before.

And he couldn't help the way the residue of love left in his heart made his chest ache when he felt rejection from her.

He looked down at the sidewalk beneath his feet. Maybe he needed to tone it back even more. Maybe he was still coming on to strong even though it felt like he wasn't doing enough. Anything to keep her from saying a flat out no to him.

"How about coffee?" Was that better? He looks over to her through the shade of his sunglasses. "One step at a time. Coffee sounds good, doesn't it? You and me? Conversation and caffeine?"