A few months back, he would not have been able to handle you getting close like this. Now, however, it's only making him realize how much he has missed it.

It is really, really good to have you back. Honesty is a terrible thing, but it's also something that's needed more often around these parts these days.

"Maybe so, but I'm also starting to wonder how long I'm going to have to wait. Seems like all I do is screw up when I try."

He tops that statement with a small smile. It's a broken thing, wrecked, as it has been, from too many fucked up chances and too little room to breathe.