He knows he don't need to do it, but...

This ain't right. This ain't right at all: either they are or they ain't -- together, that is -- and if they are he wants to do stuff with her and if they ain't, well, he's got to know before things go too much further.

He takes her by the arm, sits her down on the bed.

"Listen."

Damn, how do people do this when they ain't got the framework of a con goin' for them? He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, looks away, shakes his head, then goes back and tries again.

"Listen, Freckles. I don't know what's on your tape and hell yes, I'm curious, but I ain't gonna try and steal it back or nothin'. It's yours, and I'm glad you got it 'cause it's clear it means somethin' to you. And I'm glad I got my picture but this leaves me thinkin': what are we doing here? You and me?"

The unspoken question is pretty damn clear to him, and it goes like this: you want me or not?

But he ain't ready to put it like that. Not yet.

"I'd help you find a player for it 'cause I want to, and that's the only reason. Not 'cause I want somethin' else out of it."