Page 45 of Love Unlimited

Apparently. Zhong looked equally confused.

Is that… OK with you? Dustin asked.

Zhong searched Dustin’s face. Yeah, he finally indicated, his fist nodding up and down. Is it OK with you?

Dustin hesitated long enough that he could see Zhong getting nervous. No, it’s great! I mean, yes. I’m just not really sure what that means.

This is weird, isn’t it? Zhong asked.

Dustin couldn’t remember the last time he felt uncomfortable around Zhong. Maybe when they were in college or something, but it had been so long since then. He’d neatly labeled their relationship and put it in a box. Now the lid on the box had been pushed off, its contents mysteriously grown too large to fit.

And, yeah, it was weird.

I think I… Dustin started to explain and then realized he had no idea what he was going to say. He knew he cared about Zhong. He knew he enjoyed spending time with him. This shouldn’t be so awkward.

Have we ever gone on a date before? Dustin finally asked. Do we do that?

Zhong laughed, finally breaking the tension. I was wondering that, too. Either we’ve never gone on a date, or we’ve gone on thousands of them. I mean, if that’s what you think it was. He held his hands awkwardly in the air before continuing. Do you think we’ve gone on dates before?

Well… when we first met I kind of hoped that we were going on dates together. Remember that first time when we went out for burritos? And then when we studied together in the library and you put your arm around me? I was so excited I could hardly breathe. He chuckled and Zhong laughed with him. They had been so very, very young. But once you explained things, I guess I recategorized things in my mind so that everything was platonic.

Zhong’s eyebrows drew together. But didn’t you say we were in a relationship? I mean, something like a romantic relationship?

Yeah. But that kind of happened by spending all of our time together. Not with dates.

Zhong nodded slowly. Got it.

I have to admit, I was ecstatic when Landon and Ash said they wanted us to spend time together. But calling it dating feels like a lot of pressure.

Zhong let out a sigh of relief. Yes! Do we have to date? Can’t we just… do what we usually do?

Dustin grinned. I think we should do what we usually do, but more of it.

Thank goodness. I was kind of worried about this, Zhong admitted, already looking more relaxed. I thought we’d have some more time and get to talk about it, too.

Yeah, Dustin agreed. They ambushed us.

They totally knew they were doing it, too. But I think their hearts were in the right place.

Ha! I was just thinking that Landon was asking for a spanking with that.

Zhong shook his head. How did we even end up here?

I know. A year ago I never would have believed it. So, shall we head inside?

Sure. What do you want to do tonight?

Now that it wasn’t a date, Dustin found that he still wanted to make it a special evening for Zhong. Maybe because it wasn’t a date.

Because they were building a foundation.

Because Zhong was his first and most enduring love, and because he deserved to be spoiled.

He knew exactly what he wanted to do. I saw that you bought wrappers to make pot stickers, so let’s do that. Then we should do massages. Real ones, with the massage oil.

Zhong gave him a dopey smile. The smile that made him fall for his best friend all those years ago, even if their relationship was a little different from other people’s. Are you sure this isn’t a date? Zhong teased. Because you may have just picked two of my favorite things.

Absolutely certain. Dustin took Zhong’s broad, strong hand in his, leading him up the steps. Because they’re my two favorite things, too. This is just us being Dustin and Zhong. With more of it.