Before, Monica would answer him without thinking much.
Now she paused before simple words.
That small pause bothered John more than a direct refusal would have.
There were two possible reasons.
Either she had suddenly understood some feeling and did not know what to do with it, or someone had said something to make her careful.
John rejected the first idea almost at once.
Monica was not the kind of girl to change that fast just because of a few days. That left the second reason.
That left Adam.
"Are you avoiding me?" John asked.
Monica's face changed.
"No," she said quickly. "Why would I avoid you?"
John looked at her quietly.
That answer came too fast.
Monica also seemed to realize it.
She looked down for a second and adjusted the strap of her bag, as if that small movement could cover the awkwardness between them.
His mind kept moving.
'Did Adam say something?' John thought. 'Does he know who she is?'
That should have been very unlikely.
