Underneath the gruffness of how she described their relationship, Elias could see the pleasure she did her best to outwardly stifle. He himself had worked hard to perfect the eradication of outward emotional expression. As such, it was perhaps easier for him to see the markers of someone who tried to hide their true feelings. He knew, because he did much the same thing - only with a greater degree of success.
There was something more to her dodging of emotional expression -- but he would not press her about it. Not now. Not ever. Protecting oneself from emotional repercussions was a sign of someone who was hurt. He knew that, too. And he would not ever seek to open wounds she was clearly trying to mend on her own.
With a regretful swallow, Elias set his burger down once he made it half-way through. Charlie was thankfully nearly finished with her own. He wiped his hands on the logo-stamped napkin, then folded the used napkin into smaller squares and set it inside the burger box. He had not yet touched his fries.
"From what I've heard and seen," Elias offered carefully, "I think you're right. I am... pleased. I'm pleased for the both of you."
More than that, he thought, would have been inappropriate. But the more the girl talked about Rylee, the easier it was for Elias to see her happiness about their relationship. And that, more than anything else, was what won him over.