He doesn’t back up, but his expression becomes less suspicious, more watchful.

“I had to do something when I ran away that didn’t feel like running away. You have no idea how much that didn’t matter anymore after I had you. How much nothing did. Or maybe you do. I suck at playing it cool. But things don’t last forever just because I want them to. If I couldn’t belong here, where was I supposed to go if you left? You can go anywhere; people always like you. Everyone here likes you and you don’t even try! Do you think it didn’t occur to me back when everyone was trying to break us up that at least half of them just wanted to fuck you!” Malcolm retorts.