It meant more than words could say that Rae had been as or more emotional than either of the brothers during their reunion. For lack of any response, Elliot returned her half-smile.
"I knew it was the grin." The joke was weak, he knew, but he'd needed something to say. He hadn't felt this out of sync with Rae since Halloween. It wasn't an altogether bad feeling. Just... confusing. And maybe a little bit scary.
Or maybe he was simply imagining the whole thing, attributing the oddness as something else when it was just as likely that Rae was still dealing with almost being drowned. That would make anyone act odd.
"Happier, maybe. But also poorer, I think." Elliot tried to keep his tone light, but it didn't escape his notice that Rae couldn't seem to be able to meet his eyes for more than a few seconds at a time. He was about to open his mouth and ask if she really was sure that she didn't want him to take her to the infirmary, when, with his usual perfect timing, David returned.
Don't you dare... The moment already felt awkward enough without his brother pointing it out. Elliot sighed and hoped it didn't sound exasperated. "We were just talking about the audience our little reunion seems to have attracted." That was more or less true. "Thanks for getting her the cocoa."