"Yeah. All those guys were real A+ judges of character. Let's put a lot of value on their loyalties."

Steve does smart at that comment though. Before Robin and Eddie, he had a friend group that on average hadn't even hit puberty. He knows it is weird and had spent a summer feeling pretty damn lonely without anyone to invite over to just have a drink. But he's got more people his own age now, at least. Not that Billy needs to know any of that.

"She's safe here, yeah," he says carefully, not wanting to lie, even to Billy. "Eddie and I are looking out for her. Not that she needs it; she's tougher than anyone her age should be."