Ben's smile was thin-lipped and tight, as though he was fighting the urge to smile more broadly. Really, he was fighting the urge to scoop her into his arms and make a tight knot of themselves against the wall. He just wanted to told her. But he knew he couldn't. Shouldn't. Wouldn't.
"Hello," he repeated. He hadn't brought flowers. What he didn't want to turn this into was a date. Not prematurely. First, they had a very serious conversation to have. Depending on how it went, tonight might be the first stitch to mend their relationship, or it could be the final tear.
Funny. A few weeks ago, they'd felt like newlyweds.