That wasn't any good kind of guilt -- there would have been no point in going out there. There probably hadn't been in the first place either beyond Richie's own misplaced or misunderstood dreams - something like that. The point was he would always prefer Eddie was safe. There was a difference between brave and stupid and Richie was taking the cake with the latter option.
"Well, that sucks for me coz I'd never cheat," he said earnestly. Not at games or whatever, he'd cheat at those all day. Blatantly even. He laughed then, and it sounded a little less like he was going to crack in half -- it was easy, this distraction. They could wrap themselves up in each other and never look back, if they wanted. Richie pulled his hand back from Eddie's cheek, but only to get his hands on the hem of that comfy shirt, tugging up at it petulantly until Eddie moved enough and he could get it properly at him. They'd have kinda matching scars now.