Forge had not meant to lock her out entirely, far from it. It was just his way. Once he started thinking, turning something important over in his mind, everything else seemed to fade away, person place and thing alike. It had cost him more than one relationship, a few he mildly regretted. Only mildly as it was obviously not meant to be, but that did not stop the pangs of the heart.
He watched her bow and move away, lips pressed into a thin line. He should have said something, he was very sure of it. He should have told her she need not bow, he should have done... something. But nothing seemed to come, and he stood behind dark glasses, rolls of paper under his arm and watched her walk away as some nagging concern gnawed at his gut. This week had already been very long, and it seemed as if it was only gettomg longer still.