But end it must. When the song concludes, Stede hates to let Ed go, but he knows he has to. He steps back and looks at Ed, who has a fascinating and entirely illegible expression on his face.
For an instant Stede thinks he catches Ed looking at his mouth, but half a second later, Ed’s meeting his eyes and giving him a silly grin, and Stede’s certain he imagined the drift of his gaze.
He grimaces in an ingratiating, faux-apologetic way.
Even though Ed doesn't actually seem at all repentant about his life choices, Stede’s seized by guilt. “Oh, Ed,” he says, remorsefully. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to monopolize your time.”
But Ed shakes his head. “Nah. No apologies. This was the most fun I’ve had in ages. Trust me.”
Stede tries to smile; it’s true Ed doesn’t seem to have any regrets about how he’s been spending his afternoon. But it’s hard for Stede not to feel like he’s been awfully presumptuous.
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He pulls it out of his pocket. “Shit,” he says, examining it. “Good thing I set some reminders for sessions. I have to get back to my conference.”
“Eh.” Ed shrugs. “S’fine. Just an informal thing to give our grad students some practice. Did skip out on the whole poster session, though. Oops.”
Even though Ed doesn't actually seem at all repentant about his life choices, Stede’s seized by guilt. “Oh, Ed,” he says, remorsefully. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to monopolize your time.”
Stede tries to smile; it’s true Ed doesn’t seem to have any regrets about how he’s been spending his afternoon. But it’s hard for Stede not to feel like he’s been awfully presumptuous.