[ Caleb has to laugh at that, a soft scoff under his breath as he joins her on the couch. There's a similar weariness in his eyes and the curl of his lips. ]

It really has been.

[ And while he's still nervous, seeing her face to face is somehow more reassuring than imagining how this conversation might go. They're two intelligent, empathetic people. Surely they can come to some sort of satisfactory understanding together. ]

I'm a little better now. [ He can answer that honestly. ] I've been able to give some thought to, ah...to your question from the other night.