He doesn't take it as affectionate really. Hard to, when she knows he doesn't like hearing stuff like that, and still says it anyway.

He chews a bit of his steak, but he's lost the desire for it. This is so typical of them. One minute, they're talking about seeing where the two of them can go; the next, there's this.

'I'm goin' outside for a smoke,' he mutters, and stands up.

'Back in a minute.'