Nathaniel looks away before the tears can fall. He goes to the dresser where his clothes are set, and he begins unfastening all the leather straps of his outfit.

"Well, I know now. Give Anita time. She does a lot no one expects her to. If you keep trying, maybe she'll let you two be open with each other."

Once the straps are off, he sheds the brief scrap of fabric that passed for underwear, and trades it for a pair of worn, pale blue sweatpants. It is far more comfortable, and he feels a great deal less idiotic arguing with Asher.

"Baby steps, right? I'm not the brightest bulb in the box, but I know vampires have plenty of time on their hands to arrange those of us with much shorter lifespans into the exact positions they want."