He stepped closer, still trying not to look at me, preferring to look at the floor, the walls. I tried to restrain my ridiculous nervous grin on the subject of Sevka's love of love and such a reaction to every woman, but I restrained myself, ordering myself to shut up. Indeed, to be honest, his heavy breathing, which he could hardly restrain, affected me no less than the presence itself. The presence next to me of an interesting and wonderful (in my opinion) man acted accordingly. He worried me, and it would be foolish not to admit it to myself.

I took the phone out of his hand and looked...