This time Tony didn't really care what Billy had to say; he was still puzzling over Nick's shameful admittance. Still riding the high of the fit of laughter that came with Nick's story, which would certainly never get old, and the singular success of having the most embarrassing sexcapades (that pride was relative, but trapped underground with only the reactions of Nick and Billy, it seemed a most impressive accomplishment rather than a reason to doubt one's character), Tony was completely unfit to take Nick's words in any way seriously. It was so flippant and such a poor joke that he really shouldn't have anyway, but by the time Billy had argued his deviance, doubt had struck Tony.
"Wait, pump the breaks," he demanded, holding up both hands to halt the proceedings. It was just in the beat where he stared at Nick trying to formulate his question that he realized, and then accused, "You did, didn't you?" It wasn't quite as harsh as he had intended it, because Tony was already laughing at the thought (except, fuck, don't think too hard about it, you're thinking about it), and the only detail he needed to know was, "Tell me it was before my parents were together. Please tell me it was well before I was born."