Summary:

“Did you have…an interesting night?” She offers it up hesitantly, a part of her hoping that Ilya won’t even take the ‘in.’ There’s a half-laugh from the backseat, the sound slightly self-deprecating. “Yes. You could say.” Allie can hear the tap-tap-tap of Ilya’s fingers on the seat before he adds, “It was supposed to be boring.” Allie chews on her lip for a moment because it’s clear some part of the guy wants to talk about - whatever is swirling around in his head, but if Allie knows one thing about men it’s that generally getting them to a place of open, honest communication is the literal epitome of leading a horse to water and getting it to drink. She goes with - “What’s her name?” saying it lightly, then after a pause, adding: “Or his? Theirs? I don’t make assumptions.” “Mmm.” Ilya says in response, and for a minute Allie worries she may have taken it a step too far just by using the inclusive language, and that Ilya is very much aware of how deeply she accidentally invaded his privacy. She readies herself to apologize profusely - but then Ilya says: “Let’s say it is ‘Jane.’”