"Well, I don't," he blurted, before he really had time to think about how that sounded. "I mean she's nice and all, but we're just friends. It was all very practical." And a little sloppy, but he managed to keep from saying that aloud. "She said it was for research purposes. I'm good for practicing on, I guess."
He was steadfastly trying not to think about practicing with Meg. What if he really was that horrible at it and blew it completely. Not that it probably mattered, because he didn't think he was ever going to get up the courage to tell her how he really felt about her. It could be his one and only chance. "We could, though. So we don't blow our cover, or anything." He was pretty sure he sounded completely desperate there.
He smiled sheepishly at her, wishing she hadn't moved so far away again. "Eddie says birds would have to be mad to fancy me."