"Hey," Marlo says when she gets in the car. 

"Hey." 

In better light it would be obvious that she'd been crying; in the middle of the night Marlo can still tell if he pays attention, which she's not under the impression he isn't. 

It might also be obvious from how tightly Asher is holding her.

Marlo offers her a hand. 

Raine takes it and laces their fingers together and squeezes. "I assume Lev's at the house?" 

"Yeah. — I'm glad you're here." 

"Yeah." She squeezes his hand again and then lets go. "Me too." 

Christine is awake, because of course she is. 

Ron knocks on her door. "Hey."

"Hey."

"I'm sorry."

"From my perspective," she says dryly, "the thing you're sorry for is the single best thing you did for me in my entire life."

"Still."

"I suppose. --I love you. I always did."

"I love you too."

"It would be nice. If we were able to. Talk."

"I missed you too."

"You've stolen four of my students this session. A new record."

"I was hoping to steal five."

"Ah."

"I don't ever force a decision on kids, you know. I just... give them information, help if they need it, some time to think."

"I know. Some of them have come back."

"How often, since you were seventeen, have you been happy?"

"There are more important things in life than me being happy."

"Not to me."