A flash of hurt passed over Stephen's expression and he glanced down at his hands with a shrug, wrestling the emotion away, "No, it's fine. I... I've changed a lot. A lot has been happening." He glanced up at Michael and offered him a small smile, "I wouldn't say I'm optimistic though. I'd say more of a realist."
He leaned back, resting his lower back against Michael's legs, opening himself up a little, trying to avoid the hunched over position he felt he was always adopting now-a-days. "I'm sure I'd have thrown you a rope," He added with a slight grin, imagining Michael falling into a canal and coming up with his long hair stuck down against his face, "Or you could've taken over and pushed the back of the boat and paddled. There were a lot of options, it wouldn't have been that bad."