Sam has to bite his tongue, has to physically stop himself from back pedaling. He's not doing that, he's not giving them both an out when he realizes that...maybe it's about time he just admitted to himself that he missed her. He missed them. It's stupid but at the same time he just misses having someone like Alice in his corner. Even if he has her as an awkward friend it's not the same. He doesn't want there to be that awkwardness between them, he doesn't want to walking on eggshells worried that he'll be too affectionate or teasing with her. That he might slip up and flirt back when she's being herself and make things tense.

Alice was someone he loved for a long time and really he hadn't really stopped. He'd been overwhelmed, feeling like his life wasn't in his control. Here he didn't have the same stressors. Sure there were others but they weren't school or work or even his parents pressuring him about his work.

"Yeah." He finally lets out a somewhat breathy sort of laugh. "For real. If you want to."