Avoiding Eavan was something of a challenge when they lived and worked in the same locations. Dodging her at the house was easy enough, even if it was beginning to strain his wallet with most of his meals being eaten out, but at work it was sometimes necessary to be near her. Astra was a bird after all, and therefore Eva's specialty. It wasn't as though he could ignore her presence when caring for a creature directly under her supervision. And he especially couldn't be anything but professional when he was relying on a reference from the zoo to eventually move on.

Beau's only saving grace was that it appeared she was avoiding him too. Whatever the fight with him had been about was enough to push her away from Beau as well. He'd thought to ask about it on more than one occasion — usually on the days when he was missing her most — but never brought it up. The arrangement was to include no feelings. Questioning her about her failed relationship would surely lead to questions about their relationship, and therefore feelings.

Meaning, he couldn't win.

He was reading a letter from Mr. Silva regarding Demitri when the knock at the door came. Reaching for his discarded shirt, Beau went about dressing, unfortunately missing a handful of unnoticed buttons in the process. Why was she ending the silence now? What changed? "Eva..." he greeted with a raised brow. "Are you alright?"