"Jeez, jeez, okay." Howard puts his hands up in a pacifying gesture, sounding equally huffy. "Sorry I'm trying to keep you out of the line of fire. I'll just keep my thoughts to myself next time."

No, he won't. It's hard to break the habits of being controlling and manipulative. Hard to let things be as they are, instead of forcing them into what you want them to be.

And yes, he's sulking.