He means to say that they will. He means to explain that he's heard her; that it's a little scary to think about going home with this and starting to piece their way through it.

He really does mean to say something calm and smooth like she's taught him.

"--I love him."

His voice feels very small in his throat as he studies their hands. It isn't at all what he'd meant to say.

It's true, but that hardly made it worth saying.