Being shut down and dismissed completely was almost enough to stop Connor right there. He'd done it again. He'd let himself believe there was more than there actually was, projecting his own emotions into the other person. But if having that thrown in his face ever really stopped him, he'd never get anywhere. He just needed to side-step and keep going.

"It doesn't have to be..." he glanced around, as if only now realizing that other people might overhear. "...the same. At all. How about drinks. Tonight. My treat." He was already putting together a plan involving dinner and more, and how to get it on his expense account rather than out of his own pocket.