"If I were casually flirting with you 'cause I wasn't quite ready to jump all in, that's how I'd do it," He offered with a shrug. A joke, an inside joke between them that only they knew and understood. Perhaps he was reading too much into it, but it sounded more plausible than outright rejection to him.

"You say that, but I don't think he meant an outright rejection either. At worst I'd say it was a 'maybe later, keep my number' kinda thing." Maybe Billy needed more time or something. "Anyway, you're too damn quick to jump to the worst conclusion, Nida. Step back and really listen to what he's saying. That's my suggestion."

He's not great at these things, but he did date Rinoa for close to a year. He's learned a few things about listening. When he remembers to apply them.