The lean of her head on his grants the permission needed to stay with his head at her shoulder long enough to gather his composure, however, her verbal affirmation delays the recovery a moment longer. That added hint of carryover that Sadie has experienced over the boundary has its intended effect as it plants the idea of exploring the activities he barely remembers with Sadie beyond the reach of the Numbers. His hands find their way downward, reaching out and behind around her waist to hold her before he slowly lifts his head, withdrawing only to where he is cheek to cheek with her, “I…will keep that in mind next time we have a date out here.”

Still red across his face and faintly at his ears, he quietly shares a thought, “Maybe this is something special about having our Numbers… We might get to experience being together all over again.”