Oh, thank the gods. Life saving caffeine would once again flow through Paul's veins. He sat down at the table with Cassie, grabbing the coffee pot and pouring her a cup first - biodegradable, thanks. The Ocean Institute supported all things green. He was pretty sure the bathrooms sported eco-toilets too.
He listened to her explanation, his hands around his cup and his eyebrows arched into oblivion. "Mine's not...mine's not either," Paul replied, also speaking in hushed tones, like someone was going to bust into the room suddenly and hear them talking about crazy shit. He would be prepared just in case - 'oh yeah, did you get the results of that latest pH test ahahahhtrhjajfdsri?!?!' Except less obvious.
"When I look, I'm so much older and I have a beard. It's...god, I sound so insane," he laughed. He actually laughed. "I can't believe this." And he really hoped Cassie would still want to date him now that he had just admitted he belonged in a room with rubber walls.