[He fiddles with his ring again. She's been friendly, not cruel, and it's not like answering will share a vulnerability people don't already know about.]

He got hurt, badly hurt, and I was terrified I'd lose him as I'd... I knew I couldn't bear to lose him. For his part, he'd apparently known since he kissed me, if you want something a little less dramatic.

[He knows he's got a habit of being very emotional.]