Silence. She was mentally kicking herself over and over again for what she was saying, wondering if she should just walk out. It couldn't have been more awkward, right? Maybe she could quietly leave and then just...never see him again? Better that way.
"Yeah," a single word answer, still not looking at him. She should have just told him it was a slip of the tongue. It sort of was. She hadn't really thought about it, and when it came out like that, she really really wished she had. Because it wasn't something she ever said lightly, not a word she threw around in these situations. Fuck.
The silence that followed lasted a while. Her hands were deep in her pockets, and she was glad. She was surprised she hadn't burnt a hole straight through them. Did she love him? That was hard for her to answer. Because her instinct was yes, but her brain kept telling her it wasn't that easy. He was right. They'd just agreed to this. She was acting like those women who pissed her off- she wasn't supposed to get attached like this to anyone. Exclusive was one thing, but this? Fuck!
"You don't have to say anything like that back- I don't know where that came from," Carol stopped again. She still wasn't looking at him. "I can go if it's easier right now. I just wanted to apologize face to face. See if you were still willing to give us a shot."