Maybe he could distract Andrew with food and sex forever, and he’d never have to explain this ache in his chest whenever they were apart. Then he wouldn’t have to explain that he didn’t just want Andrew in his bed more often, he wanted him to stay—the night, other nights,everynight. He focused on the nachos to avoid overthinking it, placing them in the oven for ten minutes.
Isaac had only rinsed off, but Andrew took his time, finally appearing just as the nachos came out to cool.
“Look what I found.”
Isaac turned, seeing that Andrew had also decided on something soft and cozy to wear—his own shirt and sweatpants that Isaac had taken at Christmas. “Hey. Possession is nine-tenths of the law.”
“Yeah, and now I possess them again.” Andrew was positively smug and glowing, making Isaac’s heart stutter in his chest again. “You made nachos? Oh my God, I love you!”
And then his heart stopped, body tensing as Andrew's eyes widened at the realization of what he’d said.
“Shit, uhh… I, um… I didn’t…”
Mean it, Isaac supplied. Of course, he didn’t mean it. He was meant for grander things than some old thief.
Andrew scratched the back of his neck, only to grip tight, eyes clenched closed before they opened, staring down at the floor between them instead of into Isaac’s eyes. He wouldn’t even look at him. It was all a matter of time before more pieces of this chipped away. Isaac was such an idiot for imagining things could end differently.
He tried to back away, to head off what was coming, say anything to prevent the words on Andrew’s tongue. “Andrew—”
“That isn’t how I wanted to tell you. Please don’t freak out.”
“…what?”
Andrew’s pleading eyes finally glanced up, downturned brows drawing his mouth into a similar frown. “I know you’re freaking out. I mean I just said I love you over nachos—which smell amazing, by the way, I can’t believe you made me food again, you’re actually really thoughtful—”
“Andrew.”
“Right, uhh…” He gestured outward toward Isaac with the hand that had been gripping his neck. “Remember I said to ask me again when this was over if I forgot something?Thatwas the something. I know it’s only been like two weeks, but then I think… no, it’s been months. And when I really think about it, it’s been over two years.”
“Admitting you had a thing for me even while you were with Miss Park?”
“Maybe. I spent years with her that I thought meant something, and it was all bullshit. And now it’s been two really weird years for us, and I feel like I know you better than I ever knew her.
“I’m probably screwing this up forever by saying the one thing we never have, we’ve never even talked about what this is, whatit means, what we want from it, but… it’s not just sex for me. Or the fun of being at odds. Or being on the same team lately either. It’s those not too many in between moments too. It’s the way you… made nachos.” He laughed, gesturing at the stovetop. “It’s the way you’re just… you.
“So yeah, I think I love you. And I know it’s probably just me, I am so going to stop talking now…” He ducked his head again, blush filling his cheeks, tension in his body as he feared all the things Isaac had been fearing.
Miscommunication. Rejection.
Not living up to what the other person wanted…
“It’s not just you,” Isaac said.
“Really?” Andrew’s eyes snapped up.
“But it is complicated. If we work together, it might get more complicated, which should be a big red flag that this is a terrible idea.” Isaac grimaced, waiting for Andrew to backtrack as he gave him that out.
He didn’t. “But it is addicting, right?”
Isaac tried to settle his heartbeat and relax into what was so obviously out of his control, as Andrew drew closer, lifted his hands to Isaac’s face, holding him between his palms, and kissed him. He tasted so right, even with only the barest press of lips.
“Yes,” Isaac said, letting their foreheads fall together, “addicting enough that I don’t want to give it up.”
Andrew’s renewed smile was blindingly beautiful. “I totally would have sicked Steve on you if you’d said otherwise.” He chuckled, as he released Isaac’s face.
“Dalton would be more dangerous, trust me.”
Again, that laugh—that wonderful laugh. Andrew didn’t seem to mind that Isaac hadn’t followed up any of that with an answering ‘I love you’. It seemed the moment had passed to not feel like a fool forming the words.
