Merlin was a typical guy with a huge appetite usually, but the stress he had been under lately throttled his appetite. He took some of the food, but he really just wanted to get to know her more and was enjoying the company. Not to mention the location was beautiful and peaceful. No one else was around and it felt like they could forget the race race for a bit. "So, you love baking, and yes< cookie-making date is totally going to happen. What else do you like to do? Do you like school? College plans? Tell me a little more about you. It doesn't all have to just be good stuff. You can tell me about the hard stuff too. I get it. Friendship isn't just about the highlight reel."

He didn't mean to stare, but he was watching how she made sure nothing was touching. Had she not had taco salad before? It was generally all supposed to be piled on top of each other and eaten a bit like nachos, but he didn't want to tell her what she should or shouldn't be doing. She took so little of everything too. Was she just being polite saying it looked nice? He could feel a nervous anxiety building inside him. He was so inexperienced with this stuff, he was just playing it by ear. Maybe she just wasn't hungry. It wasn't about the food, he had to stop overthinking everything. He was a bit emotionally sensitive and fragile right now. He was just pleased to have her company. "I think that's the biggest part. That it's changed everything, and I don't know how shit is supposed to look going forward. But then I see Jace, who almost literally came back from the dead and survived being hit by a car that should have killed him. His whole life changed, and he's a happy and kind guy. He's so perfect for Jesse, oh my god. Jesse's a different person. So much happier and at peace. I want that, you know? Hey, maybe fart jokes and dick banter are just what the doctor ordered?" he said, giving her a shy smile.