Lee thinks so much of him. Michael doesn't know how to take that at the moment. He wants to be that man. He'd like to think he can get to the other side of this, but he's not sure he can, isn't even sure what that would look like or what it means. What he is certain of, more than anything, is that he cannot be alone with this. The thought is terrifying.
He squeezes her hand back, not knowing what to say. As moments pass, he starts to notice that he's uncomfortable—he's still in his work clothes and shoes, his face is a runny mess, he can't curl into Lee the way he wants to and it's making his muscles sore. He's loathe to move, every part of him feels dead and he doesn't want Lee to stop what she's doing, but being cramped and soggy is only making things worse.
“I gotta change out of these clothes,” he says, fidgeting a little bit but failing to accomplish anything.