[ His eyebrows flicker slightly upwards at witch powers, but otherwise his expression stays open and attentive as Lalo goes on. It reminds him of late nights playing poker with Ray and Huey and Louis, the guys all complaining about their women and wondering where they went wrong, or ribbing each other affectionately about their various missteps.

So he listens, and when Lao's finished, he's silent for a moment, giving the questions the other man asked his full attention as he mulls them over. ]

I suspect your friends would only be happy to know you're happy and enjoying yourself. And opinions from anyone who isn't your friend can be safely ignored. But I'm afraid I don't quite understand why you'd feel like less of a man.

[ He spreads his hands in a slight shrug. ]

It sounds as though you and Chloe understand and enjoy each other. How you enjoy each other really seems to be nobody's business but your own.