Luke would have exchanged ‘contagious’ for a ‘bit overwhelming’, though there was a time, ages ago it seems, when her sort of adventurous, spirited company would have fit him perfectly. The sort of woman he’d take by the hand and go pool-hopping with or who’d pull him, laughing, into clothing store dressing rooms for impromptu make-outs. That complete casualness and ease around people he didn’t have to know too well is something he thinks he might never have again.

At the apology, he shakes his head. “It’s fine.” You couldn’t have known.

He couldn’t agree more that it’s time to shift gears and inject levity back into the conversation but he comes up short while digging through the recent past for something lighter. He takes a bite out of his half-buttered roll, chewing thoughtfully.

“Uh, well! Least the bread good.” A tension-relieving laugh slips out of him. "Think we're lookin' at the main course here."