It was rather blunt, and not perfectly the truth, but at least it kept them from beating around the bush all night. If hanging around Guy has taught him nothing else, it's to lean into his confidence again. But Neil doesn't know Harry, really at all, so there's no sense in getting into the fine details of his issues surrounding his father.

"It is," Neil agrees, lifting his glass. He certainly wasn't banking on any tomfoolery tonight, but it was in the air now, and that felt like some relief. They can drink and talk and flirt obtusely. "Here, here. No fathers tonight."