[It takes him a moment to understand what happened when things come to a screeching halt. He straightens, still a little blank-faced when he raises his hands in surrender.]

I was merely -- [He squeezes his eye shut.] ...Fine. No more talking. [It's harder to stop touching Ed, at this point, than to keep their momentum going.] Except that I'd like to point out that out that I wasn't the one who first brought it up.

[From Ed's reaction, he had prepared for the possibility of Ed sitting the rest of the night out as well, but this he decides to keep to himself.]

But I'm sorry for asking, okay? Conversation over. [He spreads his hands, expectant.] Can we continue now?