"And what?" Cougar challenges. "You would have come out with me when I snuck away from the team to dingy, seedy bars when I needed something specific? Kept it from the team when Clay asked a question just close enough to be dangerous? Not flinched when I started to look at you too long where Roque would have seen and you knew why?"

He heaves in a sharp breath, having spoken too much.

"I'm telling you now," he says calmly. "As your friend."