he reached our table , sat down next to me with an amused look on his face , and slid his arm around my shoulder . if you 'd really meant it , you would have waited till you were alone . '' oh , but thats just the half of it , lad . he swallows once and the air between us is so still that i hear his weight slowly shift . he hopes she wo n't make too much mess . it 's not often i 'm around you when you are n't being all feisty and defensive . 