It actually took some deft maneuvering to make sure he had the seat next to Ellie on the metro, mostly because she’d been talking to Sharon as they’d all boarded the train car. Still, he’d managed by literally tugging Ellie into one of the seats beside him, shamelessly refusing to relinquish his hold on her hand. He’d taken her hand as soon as she’d arrived at the metro station, looking casually gorgeous in jeans and a dark red tank top edged with black lace underneath a cropped leather jacket, and just the slightest hint of a waddle in her walk. Although she’d seemed uneasy about holding hands with him on the platform, she hadn’t protested either or tried to move away. She’d just seemed nervous, although her anxiousness had gone away as conversations had started up and no one had made a big deal out of their hand-holding.

Sharon immediately plopped down on the seat in front of him and Ellie, turning around to continue her conversation with Ellie - she’d apparently decided Ellie would make a perfect replacement roommate for Kate and was trying to convince Ellie to come around to her point of view.

“The doorman is always there to receive packages or if you forget your key,” Sharon said, her dark eyes bright and cajoling. “It’s like having a butler, except he doesn’t answer the front door for you.”

Jake, who was standing and holding onto the overhead bar rather than taking the open seat next to Sharon, snorted. When Sharon’s head whipped around so she could glare at him though, he was looking at the front of the train rather than down at her.

“I think I’m pretty good where I am,” Ellie said again, still sounding amused. “I like living on my own.”

“When was the last time you lived with someone?” Sharon asked, coaxing. “You might like it even more. And I’m a blast to live with. Right, Kate?” The second question was half-shouted across the train, since Kate was sitting several rows back with Andrew and looked like she’d fallen asleep on his shoulder. “Kate? Oh, never mind. What’s the use of having a best friend who constantly has all the energy fucked right out of her?”

This time she ignored the derisive noise Jake made. Michael leaned back in his seat, not bothering to hide his grin. Sharon could be incredibly crass, which for some reason seemed to seriously irk Jake, which only encouraged her to be more so. Her nickname for him kept changing, but last Michael heard she’d most recently dubbed him Captain America after he’d rebuked her for cursing.

“How do you know you won’t have the same problem with me?” Ellie asked, although unlike Sharon her voice was soft enough only Sharon and Michael - and maybe Jake - heard her response.