Though it took a moment, Elias seemed to take her explanation at face value, which was a relief. Daff had sort of expected that, being the kind soul that he was, but it didn't alleviate any of her guilt. His last admission gave her what she needed to press on though. She didn't want to burden him with her messiness unless he was willing to let her, which it seemed like he was.

Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes as she fought for the right words. "This," She gestured vaguely at their surroundings. "Was just a distraction from heartbreak," And it had served its purpose well. She was far too busy and therefore too tired to think about what had gone wrong in her life leading up to this. "One I was already healing from when we met," He too had been a balm for the hurt she had been feeling and she had wanted to let it cure her completely, but still wasn't sure she could let it. Or if he was even interested.

"You have been nothing short of extraordinary, a life boat in an emotional storm of my own making," She sniffled, swiping away a few leaked tears. And she meant that too. He showed up, he put in effort, he reciprocated and he appreciated the effort she had also put in. "But at the flower show, with Irene, I thought maybe I had gotten ahead of myself, you two seemed awfully familiar with each other," Not entirely unlike whatever it was that had been blossoming between them. "And it seemed sort of awkward and I didn't want to set myself up for another heartache." Not to mention Noble, but he had finally and completely removed himself from the situation. "So I plunged head first into this shop and my own space, distancing myself to preserve what little solace I had left " For the most part, it had worked too.