"Perfunctory." Although that's what he said, the chill in Waylon Lewis's demeanor did recede a bit, his lips curling into a slight, indulgent smile.
Hope Williams silently pursed her lips, not taking up his words.
As Hope watched her interaction with Waylon Lewis, her response was perfunctory, yet she accommodated his requests with a concession that even she hadn't noticed.
Waylon Lewis, on the other hand, recognized Hope's perfunctoriness, but such an exceedingly perfunctory smile still managed to bring him pleasure.
Benjamin Myers's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. Waylon had always been an important presence to Hope; it was just that, as an outside observer, he saw it clearly, while she, the involved party, didn't realize it.
Benjamin's hands, hanging at his sides, tightened.
He liked Hope, liked her a lot, and he had never liked a girl this much before. He knew this clearly. He wanted to be with Hope, not just as friends.