"I... I do mean it." His voice was hushed, almost a whisper, as though saying it quietly would somehow make Teddy any more interested in hearing that. Billy (thought he) knew that Teddy didn't like talking about emotions or feelings or stuff like that. Most of the time, in place of any sort of affectionate admission Teddy would instead make something up like "I... you know, right? I don't have to say it?" And as a result, Billy had been extremely careful about what to say and what to admit around Teddy. But now that it was out there, and now that Teddy had implied that Billy hadn't meant it, there was no chance in hell that Billy was going to deny it.