The hug took him by surprise, but he went with it anyway. Never say no to a hug, especially one from your girlfriend who looks visibly upset. Wrapping his arms around her, he let one hand fiddle with the ends of her hair. She was dressed differently from what he was more used to, but he wasn't one to question anyone's fashion taste, as his own went to comfort, comfort and whatever was cheap enough to accidentally ruin without feeling bad about it afterward.
"It's okay, Nikko told me you were gone, and the staff filled in the rest." She didn't need to tell him where she was every moment of every day. Sometimes, he knew, there were just times when she wanted to be alone, and he could respect that. Besides, who really likes overbearing, overprotective boyfriends? No one. At least he didn't think so.
"Oh? What was that about?" He didn't think it was good news, by the way she jumped at him and the tone in her voice. Jean couldn't remember if he'd ever personally met her father - no, he was just a lowly horse trainer - and he knew that Mister Chaisty was a very, very busy man: too busy for his family. "News?" She didn't have to tell him if she wasn't ready, but Jean wanted her to know that he'd be around to provide a shoulder to cry on and sympathize when she needed it.