"No," Cade says quickly, fully aware that he's digging himself deeper, but he's never been good with either banter or lying. Ask him to lie, why not ask him to walk on his hands? But here he is.
"It's fine. I'm fine," he insists, and closes the book to set it beside him, cover-down. "..um, if you need help reaching one..." Maybe a distraction will work. He could just leave, but he's trying to do that less. It just makes the odd looks worse when he passes people in the courtyard.