"There wasn't. It was - a joke. And not a very good one," she replied with a faint self-deprecating smile. Maybe she shouldn't reuse those "witty" one-liners; or at least not the ones that fell flat both times they were used.
"I get that, and for what it's worth I'm glad you're here and free from being made to do that." Okay, now she did have to take another sip of her rapidly cooling tea because in general? She'd talked more in this entire conversation than she probably had for the past month and change she'd been in this weird hotel.
"Neither do I." Was it telling that she'd slept with the two people who had been her friend, even though one had been using her and the other had been married? Probably, but she could ignore that in favor of this genuine connection she felt with Ava. She liked the other woman, and admired her sense of humor and quick wit, which meant it was easy to give her a nod when her words trailed off.
"I'd like that, having a friend - and being yours. If you don't mind it." This was weirdly awkward in some ways, but at the same time? Felt right. "Maybe we can figure out this whole friend thing together."