He wants to feel delighted at having guessed right; he wants, in equal measure, to soothe John's embarrassment and to laugh outright at how ridiculous it is. But all he can really feel, in the end, is that same astonishment. He can't believe he was right. He can't believe that's really it. And if anything, John's embarrassment only solidifies his confusion as he blurts, "But why?"
no subject