She tilted her head, then laughed—short, surprised. "Maybe I walk softly because I don't want to disturb other people's lives," she said.
"You're late," he said without turning.
He wanted to tell her that she didn't disturb; she rearranged. That was dangerous to say aloud. Instead, he asked, "Do you ever want to stop being careful? To throw a book in the air and see where it lands?"