A knot somewhere in his chest that he hadn't even realised was there gently released - an anxiety he hadn't given name or form to dissipating.

"Just never exactly talked about it," he murmured quietly. "So I figured we were in the same chapter, at least, but same page is somethin' else." He paused, hesitating, raising his hand to take Bobbie's chin and hold it far enough away that she could read his face, and he could read hers.

"You're my best friend in the whole damn world, gunny," he murmured, his voice audible only because of how quiet the room was. "But you gotta know you're a lot more than that, too."