It takes him a couple of minutes to pull himself together in the silence between them. His breathing hitches and hiccups into his chest and the tops of his ears flush pink with the barely acknowledged embarrassment of being in such a mess again.

He shakes himself out of it carefully, giving Ethan's hand a little squeeze before he says anything. There's nothing to worry about here. Nothing bad is going to happen because he said something he shouldn't. He's not in danger.

"I'm okay. I'm... I'm here."