he leaned back in the chair like he owned the place, one ankle resting lazily over his knee, camera bag at his feet. her words tugged a grin out of him, sharp at the edges, the kind that never quite reached his eyes. "and yet.. here i am." he said smoothly, tilting his head just enough to catch her expression as she moved about the room like his presence hadn't shaken her. "guess neither of us are great at goodbyes." chase let the silence stretch, studying her like she was a scene he hadn't figured out how to shoot yet—every movement cataloged, every detail filed away. the exhaustion clinging to her didn't make her look weaker. if anything, it made her more interesting. "i was in the neighborhood." he added finally, as if that explained anything. his lips curved again, but there was something calculated about the smile. "figured i'd see if you still hated me enough to slam the door in my face."