CURSE IT :D
The fact that she not only didn't run away but wasn't freaking out at him was such a relief that he laughed. Then he realised she might think he was laughing at her, so he covered his mouth and looked embarrassed. "Sorry. Nervous. I do know them. I stayed with them when I first came back to New York last year. Jacob teaches literature at Colombia and Wil writes still. I am sorry. I...I hated not saying anything. But I had to know I could trust you."