"Thanks," he mumbled, taking the check from her. He looked it over for a moment, frowning thoughtfully, and then shifted in his seat, reaching into his back pocket for his wallet. He flipped it open, biting back a wince at how little money he had left -- he wondered if running a few games of pool constituted going back on his word to Sam -- and fished out the total and a tip, dropping on top of the check.

He glanced back at her after a moment, uncertainly. "One more thing, real quick ... do I give this to you, or take it up front, or what?"