"Here and there," Gabe said with a quiet, tinkling laugh. "I studied abroad, but I was never able to stay in any one place for very long. Life's a bit like that with its aim." He shrugged easily, withdrawing his hand and resting it on the counter.

This was the trouble he'd had with Landel's--the line between misleading without lying. He just wasn't very good at lying, and didn't like doing it anyway. He had to tread a little carefully, but he could make it come off as if he was choosing his words carefully, as non-native language speakers often did.

"I have some hours free this afternoon," he offered, and then checked himself a little sheepishly. "I mean, I don't want to presume--I can just take a look around on my own if you're busy yourself, and come back on another day when you have the time to spare?"