He gave John a brief smile at the touch. The oddest things about this situation were that he did find this man easy to talk to and that, as a result, he greatly wanted to be easier to talk to himself. Even if that meant being messed about a bit, or doing the same to Owen. It appeared all in good fun, which he felt was a type of fun he had earned after all these years.

"How does one chill out?" he asked earnestly. "I was hoping the drinks would help, but . . . " He spread his hands wide in a shrug. "It's still me, unfortunately.