Jamie's laughter rolled out of him. "I'll just consider each day you're still here to be proof that I'm right, instead," he told her with a grin, before shrugging. He didn't think of it as complimenting her when she clearly seemed to need the reassurances, whether she said so or not. "I'll leave figuring out why the castle does things to Padma and her new department. But, it seems as likely as anything."
He suddenly didn't feel like laughing as she went on, though, and he found himself crossing one ankle over his knee so that he could toy with the hem of his trousers. He hadn't ever thought of her in the way she had him. He cared. He wouldn't have stayed with her for so long if he hadn't, not even out of familiar habit. But, he'd never believed himself in love nor seen her as a future wife. Nothing wrong with that, except he'd fooled himself into thinking the didn't think that way, either. If someone had treated Lilu that way, he'd have hexed them. "Still, there aren't many who would be as nice as you've been, no matter how strange the circumstances."
Letting the moment pass, he nodded. "I have. I think some are like me, careful about who they touch, but not holding back with the people they are about. But, there are a lot who just...don't touch anyone." He chuckled a bit at her expression at mention of Sirius. "I don't think I've ever seen you dislike someone like this. What did he do to annoy you so much?" Jamie had been prepared to dislike his second eponym after her initial description and his brief conversation with Regulus. But, while Sirius was young and enthusiastic, Jamie didn't find him to be annoying. Just...young.
"I think I can handle the birthday dinner. But, thanks for offering." Thinking about spending time at Les Seychelles brought out a sigh. A weekend spent on the beach, where it was warm and they wouldn't have to worry about the castle, sounded like heaven. "Notice I didn't specify who or what wasn't allowing us to leave."