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“Yeah,” Ash agreed.

He kept his eyes trained straight ahead, out onto the water, watching the surface reflect the sunlight overhead as ripples moved toward the shore. Next to him, he heard Cass let out a quiet huff, and he glanced over. Cass’s hands were clasped together in front of him, and he was shaking his head slightly.

“What?”

Cass straightened up a bit, shifting his hands so they were both gripping the railing. Then he lifted a hand and raked it through his hair. “Ah, it’s nothing really.”

Ash’s eyes narrowed, and he chuckled. “Well, now you have to tell me.”

This time, Cass actually frowned, and he turned to rest his back against the railing, his eyes downcast. For another long moment, he was silent, and then he stuffed his hands in his pockets.

“I have something I want to ask you,” Cass said quietly. “I keep trying to get up the courage to do it, but then I talk myself out of it. And since we have to go soon, I need to do it now, or I don’t get to.”

Ash tightened his grip on the railing, and as Cass lifted his eyes slowly, Ash’s stomach swooped. The intention in Cass’s expression was perfectly clear, even from where Ash was standing, with zero real experience interpreting such expressions.

“What do you want to ask?” His voice sounded rough to his own ears, but he managed not to look away this time.

Cass pursed his lips and hesitated, his cheeks tinged slightly pink. Ash inhaled slowly, waiting.

“I wanted to ask if, um . . .” Cass closed his eyes and blew out a breath. “If next time,” he continued, “I can take you out. On a date, I mean. If I can take you out on a date. Next time we’re together in person, that is.”

Ash’s first thought was how incredibly adorable Cass was when he was nervous. His tentative smile, the hope in his eyes, the way he bit his lower lip. Ash’s stomach swooped again, and he blinked and dropped his eyes to the ground.

“Um . . .”

He turned to look out over the water, his next thought bombarding him with a slew of expletives and a whole lot of confusion.

He’d been expecting the question. Hadn’t he? He should have been prepared. Ready for it. Certain and confident as he told Cass “Yes, I’d love to. That sounds great.”

That was, after all, what he wanted to say. But he found himself shaking his head instead, his eyes screwed shut against the dull ache in his chest. He leaned out over the railing more.

“Um . . .”

A gentle hand settled on his shoulder and squeezed, and he let out a soft breath and dropped his chin. For just a moment, he allowed himself to feel it. He leaned into Cass’s touch, and it was as soft and welcoming as he’d expected it to be.

Quietly, Cass pulled back his hand and stepped up next to Ash along the railing, close enough this time that their shoulders touched. That was good, too.

“You don’t have to answer now,” Cass said gently. “And I realize that I have no idea when that would actually be—when we’ll be together again in person.”

Ash huffed another weak laugh. “True.”

“I’ve just really had a great time getting to know you,” Cass said. His voice softened even more as he added, “And I’d really like the chance to get to know you more.”

Ash closed his eyes and nodded. That wasn’t his answer; he wasn’t ready to answer yet, even if his body was screaming at him for more of this closeness Cass was offering. But it was an admission of something.

And somehow, Cass didn’t question it.

They stood there like that for another few minutes, quietly gazing out over the bay as the sun began to drop lower in the sky. Then Cass cleared his throat.

“Time to go, I think?”

“Ah, yeah, maybe.” Ash straightened up and reached into his pocket for his phone. The screen lit up, and he grimaced. “Yeah, it’s just after five thirty. We should go so you’re not late.”

“I’m totally going to take it as a good sign that you sound disappointed,” Cass said, a clear tease in his tone and an adorably hopeful, silly half smile on his lips.

The levity and Cass’s optimism were contagious, and Ash feigned a nonchalant shrug, holding back a grin. “Maybe I am. Just a little.”

Cass’s eyebrows arched. “Just a little?”