"Wh—hey," Martin says sharply, now resisting John's playful advances out of distracted indignation on his behalf rather than some vague sense of personal pride. He squirms a little, trying to put just enough distance between them to meet John's eyes. "First of all, I wasn't — I wasn't worried, I trust you, it's just—" He huffs impatiently, forcing himself to admit the painfully obvious: "It's not like it's rational. But sh-she obviously cares about you, and she's right to, and — and she would be so lucky!"

The idea that Norah, or anyone for that matter, wouldn't put up with John is enough to make him annoyed all over again. "Anyone would be," he insists rather aggressively.