"Well," Lily said after a long pause, her tone thoughtful, "that's a nice offer, Timmy. But I have something to do right now."
Timmy's heart sank a little, but then she continued, her voice softening. "But, I appreciate it. And who knows? Maybe another time, when things are less chaotic."
Timmy breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't outright rejected him. And there was still hope. He couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face, despite his still-flushed cheeks.
"Right," Timmy said, trying to keep his voice steady, though he could hear the faint excitement creeping in. "Another time, then. I'll take you up on that 'another time' offer for sure."
Lily's voice came through again, now tinged with a teasing tone. "Just make sure you don't call me again by accident, okay? I wouldn't want you to end up asking me about dinner every time you're distracted by my contact picture."
