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After the not-quite-a-date Jay had set them up on, Alan had insisted on scheduling other times to meet, as he claimed he would like to continue "getting to know" Max. It wasn't until the first time that Alan had ordered coffee for Max and had gotten the order Max actually liked and not just the plain black he generally ordered for himself that Max realized Alan had gotten to know Max and not just the act Max had decided on. Alan had grabbed Max's hand before Max had the first sip and the realization that Alan-- who Max knew knew hardly enjoyed the touch of anyone, let alone touch where anyone could see it like on the small town side-walk outside what Alan called Manchester's only decent coffee shop-- Alan held Max's hand easily at his side.
"I know you, Max," he said, not quite smiling but absolutely fondly. "But you can do a man the favor of waiting until the end of the date before running off on him."