-- Was she reading his mind or something? What she says blindsides him, his face dropping its smile as he jerks around to look at her when she pulls away, studying her face, looking for something. Does she...? He doesn't want to ask. He's been living with so much doubt and self-deprecating belief that anyone could look at him and see something worthwhile that he's too scared to ask. You know. Just in case she's just being nice.

She means it. And even if she doesn't mean it, he wants to believe that she does, and he doesn't want to break the illusion.

... Getting around saying that all out loud is going to be impossible to pull off, though. He struggles with his mouth, trying to get it to smile again instead of turning downwards. He has no control over the emotion around his eyes whatsoever, and they are not smiling. (At least he doesn't feel any tears coming on? It's the doubt that's doing it. If he had no doubt in his mind that she was being sincere, he would have way less self control.)

"'Course. I'm kind of a big deal. Right?"