[ He doesn't realize how seriously wound-up he is until she laughs, until he finds himself relaxing by degrees. ]

Yeah, I am, too. [ And he's a little more earnest than usual, abandoning his sort of smartass tone. He might even sound sheepish.

Too bad Maya doesn't have a way to record this momentous occasion. ]

Honestly, I figured you would've, I dunno. Gotten freaked out. I wouldn't've blamed you if you'd decided to leave.