The sudden grasp of a hand catches her breath, before Sookie finds herself relaxing again, exhaling softly through her lips. It's not quite the same as relief, although she feels the fluttering in her stomach change into something harder, an ache, nerves ironed and calmed. If nothing else, hearing that Mathias understands— she wonders if it's Vee who prompts the thought, thinks about the warnings Neil's made— relaxes her into a slight curve of her lips and a nod.

"I hope you aren't just saying that," her doubt speaks up again, a slight furrow in her brow still holding out in spite of everything else. But she nods quickly after, because knowing Mathias has to come with a degree of trust a well, forged just by glancing his way. "I guess it was just bad timing for the both of us, huh?" Cheeks still bright with embarrassment, Sookie rests her hand under her chin, gaze breaking away in thought.

"I'm so sorry for breaking this to you on New Year's Eve. I thought it'd be better not to wait for something like this."