[The context makes the question somewhat more awkward than it would have been, even asked prior to that. a slight tightness at the edges of his mouth, a little more stiff in his reply:]
We were quite good friends. Surely it isn't that uncommon.
[Not exactly a no, but the discomfort with the idea is obvious.]
no subject
We were quite good friends. Surely it isn't that uncommon.
[Not exactly a no, but the discomfort with the idea is obvious.]