"Sorry," James replied, automatically. A part of him was intrigued. He hadn't often heard Peter talk about girls before. Probably because he hadn't been able to get a word in with James banging on about Lily every twenty minutes, but still... If things had been different, he would have asked more questions, offered more sympathy. But they weren't, and so he didn't.
He wasn't quite sure what to do with what came next, however.
James glanced across at Peter, hands shoved deep in his pockets as he began their walk towards the staircase. It was still a surprise, just as it had been for weeks, that the other man looked like he had always done. James felt like something physical should have changed to match what was happening in his head, but Peter remained stubbornly Peter, no matter what he tried. It didn't make things any easier.
He'd wanted an apology. So why didn't he feel much better for having got it?
"Thanks," he nodded. What was it with the one word answers? James was definitely not a 'one word' type of person. He usually had no problem running his mouth off to anyone and everyone who would listen.
Merlin, pull it together Prongs.
"I'm sorry about your family," he finally said. They'd reached the staircase now, and James took them two at a time, turning at the bottom to frown up at Peter. "Are you going to talk to Lils?"