[He tenses when she does, expecting her to perhaps push him away now. He shudders at her words, squeezing his eyes tightly shut for a moment.]

It has been...difficult.

[He inhales a shaky breath. He shouldn't have said that. But it's the recent issue Ruth Billy, it sneaks up on him in unwary moments. That's what he tells himself.

He makes a strange, unsteady little laugh.]

Later. That nonsense can wait until later.

[Until never.]