"Hummmm... Will have to see what happens between now and then. Might be able to come up with something" he said with a quick wink and a grin.

"Oh, and thanks" he said, that sudden awkwardness starting to show itself again. "Had seriously considered not coming. These kinds of parties are not really my thing. So thanks for making it a less awkward evening. Think i would have been spending the entire night hiding in the corner or have just slipped out long ago."

Yes. Yes he was still painfully terrible at the whole socializing thing. He was working on it!