[ Independence aside, he thanks her when she drops off his order, and closes the last inch or so between himself and the food in order to map the chip basket and the glass with his fingers. It's second nature at this point to run his fingers up the glass and then around the rim, and he does it while he listens intently.

The only part to which he visibly responds is when she says she values him, and he blinks. Your classic 'local man still can't believe everyone else doesn't dislike him as much as he dislikes himself'.

When she finishes, he's silent for a moment, turning it over in his head. ]

Well. I-I can't pretend that I don't understand holding out beyond the point of hope. Truth be told, I, I've made a fool of myself in the same way, in the past.

[ Just ask his fellow raft idiots! Now, to be fair, at the time, he thought he was doing what was necessary for John. Which leads to a question: ]

May I ask why you thought it was the right thing to do? So that I can avoid making assumptions.