"Just once," Rodeo specifies, because he feels like that's important to note. It was a fluke. Lita answering him that night, letting him ramble on a space adventure with her until she fell asleep, that was just a lucky roll of the dice on his part. He knows it. It doesn't mean she'll ever find it in her to forgive him. He can't take too much comfort in Teagan saying Lita still has it for him. Whatever it is, it's not enough to make up for his lies and it sure as hell doesn't mean he'll get so lucky again. If Lita has any lingering feelings for him, he's got no doubt that she's doing her damnedest to get over them.
Rodeo appreciates Teagan's loyalty to him, her willingness to take his side. He really does. But he knows that she's giving him too much credit now, knows that she's all too willing to believe that he's less at fault than he truly is. It's no game, and Lita has every right to be a cunt, though that's not at all what she's being. She's been kinder to him than he deserves. Taking his call, answering his messages-- she ought to ignore him, ought not to give him the time of day after what he's done. Rodeo doesn't think it's about teaching him a lesson, and he don't think he'll ever be golden to her again. About that, Rodeo thinks Teagan is wrong-- but she isn't wrong when she says he wouldn't be so interested if Lita wasn't presenting him with such a challenge. He doesn't want anything easy. From the very first time Lita gave him lip, he's been smitten. Her standing up to him, finding in him fault for the lies he told, that just makes him more wild over her. He wants to be told when he's done wrong. He wants a woman who holds him accountable. Who will never be so far gone that she'll let him get away with anything. The cruel truth of all of this is that Lita's rejection only makes her more appealing to him.
They ain't gonna find anything down here. Rodeo nods when Teagan says she needs to get out of the damp, and he heads for the stairs, leading the way up. "They weren't here. Maybe one o' the others will find somethin' more." He hopes. His sore heart can't stand to lose any more brothers.