Rylee had attempted to look relaxed by leaning back against the wall. However, if anyone knew him, they would see the tension in his broad shoulders and the nervous glances he made around the room. He kept the flashlight pointed to the ground, not wanting to be rude and flashing anyone in the face, but despite the low light he could see another man enter the lobby and approach him. When he stopped and spoke, Rylee immediately stood up fully, parting from the wall, and without realizing it he stood at ease. Feet parted, hands behind his back, Rylee looked directly at the man and gave him a nervous smile.
“I would say about twenty minutes? At least I think it took me fifteen minutes to make it down the stairs and I’ve been standing here for a few.” Rylee let out a breath and forced himself to not appear like the nervous mess he usually was. He hated speaking to people he didn’t know but his military training mixed with his mothers need for manners had Rylee going into autopilot when in a situation of talking to someone he didn’t know. He had to be polite, he had to answer the person’s questions, and there was no other way around it. “I only moved in last month, it’s good to know that this place usually runs smoothly.”
Military training that had brainwashed Rylee from acting like a normal civilian had him checking over this man to see if he was a threat in any way or if he was carrying a weapon but his findings came up with nothing that screamed danger, just caution. And that very well might have just been Rylee’s nervous lack of trust in people. He allowed himself to relax a tiny bit, enough to erase the worry line Rylee always had between his eyebrows, and he stood up straighter with a more genuine smile. “My name is Rylee Eckholm. I live on the seventh floor.” He switched the flashlight to his left hand, keeping it tucked behind his back, and produced his right in an offer to shake hands.