Eddie leaned in closer, intentionally making his shoulder touch Richie's shoulder as they looked at the picture. If Richie looked up, he'd give him a smile. He had a feeling Richie was the one that carved it here too. He'd have been worried about getting caught or getting splinters, even as an adult. He hoped the gift in his backpack would be enough of a way to return the gesture - when/if he worked up the courage to give it to him.
"When we were apart?" Eddie asked softly. That must have been it. When else would Richie have done it without one of the losers seeing? "That's cool. Not that the shit happened. That you were thinking about me when my mom wouldn't let me see you. I was thinking about you then too." It was in-between thoughts of missing Stan's bar mitzvah, spooky pharmacies, not getting himself killed by Pennywise and missing all the losers. There had been a greater loss by not having Richie. He hadn't said anything then, because he always thought Big Bill and Richie were best friends. He hadn't thought he could be special.
"I thought about you every day until I got to see you again." There was no need to get into why they reunited. The clown shouldn't be brought up now.