"I'm not asking you to wait forever, that's not fair to you," he said. "So please believe me when I say I'm more than willing to let you help me. I could really use that right now."
That hit him like a punch to the gut, and he realized just how much his actions affected the people around him. "I promise," he said quietly. "I like spending time with you and Bernie, and if I have to prove that to both of you all over again, then I will."