The gesture, care instead of anger, startles Cal; the surprise is reflected in his expression, clearing away the frustration (and hurt, and bewildered resentment, both closer to the surface than he'd realized) and leaving him looking at Sam in silence.

Sam's words do nothing to alleviate the surprise. That isn't what he said before. It sounds similar, but it isn't - maybe Sam is just - Cal knows what the right twist of a phrase can do, after all. But.

"Why?" he blurts out after a long moment of trying to catch up.