Because it's true. [Now he turns in toward Petre, his hand sliding to wrap an arm around his waist this time.] Look at you. You're cracking up over this. If the real you did any of that shit, you wouldn't care now any more than you did then. You'd be laughing at me over how sappy and gross we were before. Making fun of yourself. That's what I expected.

[The calm is finally broken by a furrow of emotion between his brows, a little waver in his voice.]

But instead I got you back. And I'm not losing you to that again. It wasn't your fault.