Lucy let him take her jacket for her. It was sweet of him and she murmured a soft, "thank you" when he did. The compliment he gave her, however, had her grinning like the cat who'd eaten the canary. He didn't get a thank you for that. He got to smugly raised eyebrows and a fishing-for-more-compliments, "Do you really think so?" There was something so extremely gratifying in the way he looked her over. It would have been different if she hadn't been looking for a little attention, but as it was, she was more than happy for it.
Lou noted the preference. Same as last time. She figured he genuinely liked it then. That tidbit of information got filed away in the back of her brain in case it became useful later. She liked to know what people liked.
Her smile was teasing and yet genuinely appreciative. He looked excellent, in all the meanings of the word. She didn't say so out loud though. As much as she played, she was still a small town girl at heart. She might act out, she might pretend they weren't, but the boundaries of her upbringing were still there.
The little touch on her elbow sent a thrill down her spine. It was fun to get out like this and to have someone else playing host. She started moving in the direction he'd prompted her, body language showing that she offered to carry her own drink if he wanted.
His question had answers far too complicated to get into at this point. She wasn't sure what she could tell him honestly. Worry for two of her friends had been eating away at her - heart, mind, and soul. Lucy shrugged like it didn't matter. "I missed the music," which was true enough. Her eyes glanced down at the floor demurely before she looked back up at him. "I hope you don't mind." The dress, the makeup, the calling out of the blue and sort of just making him invite her over.