"Chuck can be very...persuasive," Billy said with a soft smile. "I just needed a different perspective."

His hands slipped down to Mike's shoulders, holding them tight. "And you've no reason to fret. I'm far more resilient than you give me credit for. But should I find you in a state like I did last night in that hotel, I'll not let it stand." He tilted his head forward, looking Mike straight in the eye, his eyebrows raised. "I'm not gonna be afraid of anything you say." A smile brightened his face, before he added, "I can be incredibly stubborn when I need to be."