[It's not Eddie's fault and he knows his reaction is childish and stupid but every time he looks at him, talks to him, he thinks about what he'd lost. Twice now. The fact that he was a no-good coward even now with the universe begging him to tell Eddie the truth.

Richie's been trying to fake it till he makes it and convince himself that he could survive here without being with Eddie. Twist the logic until it makes sense but he's miserable, drinking a lot, and being stupider than usual.]

Heeey, man. [He has caller ID and he loves the guy too much to forward a call.] Uh... Not great. People are dying? And I'm really close to being in trouble for quota-related reasons. How about you?