[ Joe's inability to get the things that matter out of himself is not Dennis' fault. He's always been this way, unable to communicate when it's personal. He can talk to a room full of people about anything like it's nothing, but when it comes to himself, the words just don't come. Not in the order he needs them to, when he needs them to.

But Joe doesn't want this. He doesn't want the stress and the strain and the awkwardness between them, he doesn't want Dennis to hate him anymore. He's tired of fighting and he's tired of always fucking messing up.

Joe breathes out slowly. ]

... I don't know either, Dennis. You didn't do anything wrong by - telling me how you feel, though. I don't want you to think that. I [ Keep going, Joe. ] ... I really do care about you. I care about you a lot and none of this - we don't have to - we can just.

[ Fucking hell. Joe clenches his jaw for a second, tries to sort himself out. Briefly, he remembers trying to tell Cameron about Westgroup, how he'd stuttered and stumbled through everything. Granted, he'd been on drugs then, but this kind of feels the same way.]

It can still be good. We can still be good.

[ Just fucking tell him you love him. ]