“I’ve always been proud of you,” Max says gruffly, as my eyes begin to sting. “I’ll always be proud of you, Conor. I love you.” “Well, shit,” I say, coughing to clear the rocks from my throat. “Guess I’m the asshole.” He laughs while we both discreetly rub our eyes and make other manly guttural noises that are absolutely not crying.
