He knew it wasn't because of a weight thing.
Physics was a thing, and he wasn't going to make her feel uncomfortable in her own apartment if he made a comment that might come off as a dig or joke at her expense. He knew the damage words could do.
"So," she sat back against the cushions, "what listings are you looking at?"
Oh, yeah.
The apartment listings.
Kaleo took out his phone and was happy to have a reason to look down at the screen on his phone.
It's not a date, he told himself.
It's not.
But... He snuck a look at her from the corner of his vision.Maybe?
He found the website where he'd been searching and handed it over into Lexie's hands.
"Hmm..." She murmured to herself. "I wish I'd known about this when I was looking for an apartment. There's a lot of good information on here."
She scrolled a little and then looked over at him. "I see that they're all pretty much in the same range. Can I assume that's what you're shooting for as rent?"
He nodded. "Basically. I was kind of surprised at what the offerings were for my price range. The rent here in Center City goes a lot farther than in Hawaii."
She gave him a smile that he could only describe in his head as 'impish.' "I bet!"
"Which house are you working at? Have you been assigned a house?"
He opened his mouth to answer.
"I probably should have asked that first, right?"
She was still looking at the screen on his phone and so she probably didn't see him breathe in to answer.
"Oh, and I should ask if you're going to have a car. That's going to make a big difference when it comes to where you live." She leaned in closer, pointing at something on his phone screen. "I noticed you didn't have parking spaces selected on your search criteria. In a big city, it's going to be a concern."
Kaleo was trying to look without craning his neck, but even as good as his eyes were, the lights in the room warmed the space but weren't exactly the kinds of lights that made it easy to see a phone screen, even one where it was as bright as the setting could be.
The room was quiet for a moment before he looked over at her to see that she was looking at him with more than a hint of humor in her gaze.
"I know I've been yammering at you more than I should, but I don't bite."
He knew he was staring at her, but for a moment his eyes widened at her. "What?"
Her shoulders relaxed into an almost shrug before she took her right hand off of the phone and gave the cushion beside her. "It's easier to see if you're not looking over from a foot and a half away."
He didn't comment back or even try to wave off her suggestion.
He just moved over and saw her lift up a few inches as his weight moved the cushions.
She smiled at him, and he took a stab at a joke. "Big waves in the ocean."
She snorted a soft laugh in reaction. "I was worried I'd launch you off the couch when I sat down."
"Hardly," he shook his head. "I doubt you'd be able to make a wave bigger than I did."
They laughed, leaning into each other and when their laughter subsided, he felt her shoulder against his.
