[He's glad that Steve's story doesn't end with the friend being homophobic or a real jerk about it all, or even with proper unrequited love. It's still sort of bittersweet and not the way that a nice guy like Steve should lose his virginity, but it's not the worst thing ever.]

Wow, I bet. At least he's been cool about it, right?

[He scrubs his hand through his hair a little awkwardly.]

Better'n my first time kissing a guy, I was the jerk. I was the jock in school, boxer, always knew I wanted to go into the army, so I thought... I don't know, being gay wasn't manly enough or something? Anyway, I was fourteen and at this house party, and we'd all got kinda drunk too, and I ended up kissing this guy in the bathroom. I still don't remember which one of us initiated it, but I freaked out and called him a fag. Not my proudest moment.

[Maybe he shouldn't tell stories that paint him in such a negative light, but he wants Steve to know the good and the bad.]

I caught up to him about a year later and apologised, he didn't even remember it, too drunk.