He swallowed, trying not to think about the fact that her hand was on his knee because it couldn't possibly mean anything, not even if she was currently going on about how it might. Or how their lakeside moment might have. His eyes drifted to her hand before traveling up to her face again.
"You want to talk," he echoed, "About what happened by the lake." He felt vaguely like a parrot, and blew out a nervous breath. "Lily, what happened by the lake ..." Shutting his eyes, he tried to think clearly. "What happened by the lake wasn't good for either of us."
It stung to say that, to admit it, but it truly wasn't. For her, it took away from James, someone she seemed to be spending a great deal of time with. And for him ... well, there were prices to be paid. And he'd pay them, if he had to, if this was really what she wanted. He just didn't want her to have to pay as well.
Meeting her eyes, he continued honestly, wondering if it would even matter.
"I don't regret it, though," he added, "Not for a moment."