Page 55 of Love Limits

Yeah. I mean, I’m still not jealous, but I want to be someone’s primary. Or their only. I’m done with casual. They looked up at Zhong, something unreadable on their face. It’s like you said—I want to be the center of someone’s universe. I want someone to love me most of all.

You will be. You deserve it. Zhong rubbed a soothing hand along their thigh.

He wanted Ash to be happy. Though he was already starting to have a niggling doubt about how he’d feel when Ash found that person.

The last question was about scary movies. Zhong kind of suspected that it was just for kicks. It definitely couldn’t be in the top fifteen most important things for finding a date.

He clicked no.

Ash pouted. You’re letting me down. I love scary movies.

He made sure to click yes on the partner question, if only to make Ash smile.

After that there were… suddenly a lot of people that he was supposed to like or message or sort through or whatever.

Ash grabbed the laptop and clicked a few things. OK, just set your age range and stuff about smoking and all that.

Zhong clicked a few buttons in his profile settings.

Should I write something? It looked like other people had a lot of text in there.

Ash closed the computer. That part will take you all day. Let’s get out a game.

Finally, Zhong signed in exaggerated relief, getting Ash to laugh.

Though actually, Ash had been right. Signing up for the dating site had been fun.

But only because he was doing it with Ash.

The thought was interrupted by the doorbell, and then they were dishing out food. The containers took up the entire kitchen table, though it wasn’t large. Zhong figured they’d sit on the floor to eat anyway.

Ash set their plate on a side table near the couch. They picked up a chicken skewer to munch on. What do you want to play? they signed, the spiced yellow chicken bobbing. You brought some of your games, right?

Zhong grabbed the bag he’d brought over. I’ve got Wingspan and Azul. They’re supposed to be relaxing. They’re also beautifully illustrated, which I thought you’d appreciate.

Ash snatched the bag from him gleefully. They fell to their knees to dig in, only slightly hampered by the skewer. He should probably take it from them before they hurt themself or made a mess, but they were so excited that he just wanted to enjoy watching them.

They pulled out the two boxes, looking eagerly between them. He didn’t think he’d ever get tired of the joy that Ash brought to every small thing in life.

Ash looked up just then, eyes scrunched tight with delight.

Zhong smiled back, their eyes locking. It felt like some river flowing between them, a current of exuberance and pleasure that wound through each small moment. Making Ash happy was such an easy thing, and it felt like it reverberated inside Zhong’s chest tenfold.

That was when Zhong noticed it. That tingly glow. The warmth that settled in under his ribs.

The one that Dustin said was a crush.

Maybe it was only the conversation that made him notice it, but this was it. The feeling that said that Ash was his person. That just being near them would make his life complete and beautiful.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go at all.

He felt his smile slipping.

They were the Disastrous Dating Club and sooner or later Ash was going to go on an actual perfect date with someone else, not just a facsimile of one.

That was what the whole OKCupid thing was about. He was supposed to be dating someone else, too.

Any relationship that he had with Ash was going to be just like Dustin all over again. Probably much worse now that he understood more about what he wanted.