"Yeah, he's a stubborn bastard alright." And he's good at wearing a guy do, too, whenever he wanted things to go his way.

He knew she was right, of course, about the reputation and all of it. If he were completely honest, he was a little self-conscious about it, too. Did he care about weather or not his friends thought he was good at something? Maybe. He rubbed the back of his neck and cleared his throat. "I just didn't want all the questions." And maybe that was to keep them at a distance. He really had had his head up this ass the whole time he'd been back, hadn't he?

"I'm sorry. Maybe...I should've let you guys in more."