August led her stumble through an almost-excuse, and then for the door, without speaking. He exhaled, disappointed despite the ways that he had tried to make sure that this was a level-headed decision. He had been hopefully; he had imagined a life where they could make each other happy.

He closed the book she had been looking at and re-shelved it. And then, he left to rejoin the rest of the weekend. His mother would be disappointed — and August could not blame her.