A thing a week - 48
Snow was nearly dozing, reclined on a leather couch. Jessica was laughing as she walked in the door, and Snow shot up at attention.
"Paul, it's cool, you don't have to stand every time someone walks in."
"But you're going to introduce me to your father, I think it would be a little more respectful than lounging here." He stepped around the couch and extended his right hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Reid."
The man laughed around a bite of food still in his mouth. He chewed quickly and swallowed before shaking Paul's hand. "Thomas. Rumor has it the pleasure is all mine. Jessie's had a lot to say about you."
Snow blushed a little and ran his hand through his hair. "She's got a lot to say, but for me it's probably all exaggerated." He tried to blink the sleep out of his eyes.
"Paul?" Jessica asked.
"Good seat, isn't it?" Thomas nodded with a smile.
"That's been more rest than I've had in a while, yes. Thank you for the privilege."
"Actually, I've got another one coming Saturday to replace that. Would be a shame just to see it fall apart on the side of some road." Thomas set down a bowl of popcorn and moved to the back of the couch. "Rosy's got something bad against this thing. Think you can take good care of it for me?"
Paul stumbled for words. "Well...wait, what? I...can't take this from you."
"You're not taking it, I'm giving it to you."
"Well, I wouldn't have a place to put it in my tiny dorm."
Thomas laughed. "Excuses. There's plenty of room in Jessie's lab, you can keep it there. You're practically eating and sleeping there anyway from what I hear."
Paul immediately felt his ears go red. "Well, you're putting me on the spot. I didn't get you anything."
"We can discuss that. Jess, you wanna throw the movie in? Paul, I've got something else you might like."
Paul followed Thomas into an office. There was a neatly organized rack of discs and books over a computer monitor, two walls were nearly completely obscured by frames of family photos and vacation views. "Wow, you guys have been to the Spire. How long ago was that?"
"Well, Jess was eleven in that photo, I'd say ten years ago."
Paul nodded. "Yeah, at least that. This was before the seating." His hand was still fiddling with his hair.
"Paul, I want to be honest with you, Jess has said a lot about you. And I'm starting to see what some of it means."
He looked at him with confusion. "What sorts of things has she said?"
"You've got to lighten up. I offered you an old, beat up couch and you immediately went on the defensive. Sometimes it's okay to accept a gift now and then."
Paul lowered his hand and let his eyes wander around the room.
"I'm over here, Paul." Thomas was pointing at his own face. "You've got to stop acting like you're always in trouble for something. That's why you're getting the couch. You need to relax."
Paul looked him in the eye and slowly nodded. "Thank you."
"Just, don't fall asleep on us during the movie."