His eyebrows shoot up, and she has a flash of concern: for what he must think of her; a worry that Neil thinks she's still misconstrued their friendship; even, a little protectively, that he might now think something ill of her friend for suggesting such a thing in the first place. But then he laughs and the taxi pulls into view, and the tension of the moment--if there had been any--dissipates before it can truly settle over them.

"Of course I'm going to have fun," she says, pulling her coat a bit closer around her before they leave the lobby again. They aren't going far, just to the taxi at the curb, but she's not dressed for the cold by any means. "I'm in wonderful company, aren't I?"