Her response is? Pretty much what he was expecting. And he’s pleased that he’s got that kind of read on her, because it speaks well to what they’re going into. He didn’t tell her that for brownie points or to try and curry her trust; he’s well aware, given what she went through, that he’ll have to earn that up hills both ways in the snow without shoes.

And he’s here for it.

“They don’t,” he agrees with her, “unless… someone does something about it.”

He takes a piece of fruit himself.

“So… what do we want to do about it?” He dips his head to her. “I’m not skipping out on responsibility here. But I graduated from a partnership. So I happen to think that’s how it works best. I won’t expect, or demand, trust. When, or if, you do? It’ll be earned. It’ll happen when, or if, it’s going to happen. But I will do my damndest to be genuine with you. And up front. And if you ever have a question of me, you’ll get the best answer I have.”