"I'm not thinking that at all," he assured her. He hadn't run screaming, and he didn't feel inclined to run screaming. He liked Kate. And he wanted to be there for her. He wanted to be a friend for her, someone she could trust and lean on. And feel comfortable with.
"I mean, sure. It's a lot to take in. It's a lot to try and process. But I'm glad you trust me enough to share it with me," he told her. Ben was a good kid. He'd been raised to be compassionate. He'd been raised to be a good listener.
"I wish there was more I could do, but I'm here." He offered her a warm smile.