He stroked her back in an attempt to soothe that tension. "As long as he didn't provoke you too much; he loves nothing more than to get into people's heads."

Of course, that was likely what Barry had been trying to do in his own way. He'd been hoping to say something to taint Rinoa's opinion of him. There wouldn't be a need to worry about Johnny's friends getting in Barry's way if all of his friends left him.