"I mean, it sort of cold showered the moment," Frank said, and managed a tiny, strained sort of laugh, somewhere deep in his chest. He had his hand on Billy's jaw and he didn't move it, because moving it felt like a confirmation of all their worst fears--fears that he could see in Billy's eyes, and fears that Frank didn't know he had or how to voice.

He was quiet a moment. He wasn't good with words, especially not about important things, and this was an important thing. When he spoke, it was sort of fumbling.

"You tell me if I fuck it up. If I make you feel...you know, if things are too much. And I can stop calling you pretty and shit, yeah? Just--I'm dumb as shit, Bill, you know. I'm dumb as a fuckin' rock, you gotta tell me."