Julian blinked at that. He supposed he’d owned more Lego cars than real ones, but…
“Does it still count if the tires are tiny?” he asked as Isaac hovered by the door, waiting for their food to show up.
Isaac shrugged. “I dunno, man. This is a fact I got off a cereal box. I just thought I’d impress you with my worldly knowledge.”
Julian chuckled, thrilled by the idea that Isaac wanted to impress him.
He was still utterly, hopelessly in love with Isaac. There was no pretending otherwise.
For the first time, though… it didn’t seem quite as hopeless as Julian had thought. Isaac had said he wanted this to be special, and itwas. In a way that would only have meant something to the two of them.
The thought was exciting.
Isaac answered the door when the delivery girl knocked on it, smiling his usual, charming smile at her, but turning his attention back to Julian straight away.
That was new, and it was nice. Normally a pretty girl would have been a huge distraction for Isaac.
But maybe… maybe he was looking at Julian like he looked at pretty girls, now. Julian couldn’t be entirely sure that wasn’t just wishful thinking, but he wanted it not to be. He wanted Isaac to want him.
Julian moved the completed car out of the way, making room for them to eat at the table again.
“So are you nervous about tomorrow?” he asked as Isaac took dumplings, soup, and noodles out of the bags he’d been given, the smell making Julian’s stomach rumble.
This waswaybetter than when they were kids.
“Little bit,” Isaac admitted, passing Julian a pair of chopsticks and then breaking his own neatly in two. “I dunno, I guess it doesn’t really matter, but… I still like to win, and I’m not sure I’m up to it.”
“Well, for the record, I’m proud of you just for entering,” Julian said. “And… I know there’s a lot going on in your head right now, and that offer to justlisten? That’s still open, if you ever want to take it up.”
Julian wanted to be there for Isaac. More than anything, he just wanted them to be best friends again, like they had been before. No secrets, no keeping anything from each other.
Well, except the fact that he was in love with Isaac. Although, Julian had never really kept that a secret. He’d always treated Isaac with all the love he felt for him, in all the ways he was allowed.
“Thanks,” Isaac said. “I… guess I’ve learned some things about myself. Not sure what they are yet, though.”
“You’re not on a deadline,” Julian said softly. “My friendship isn’t going to turn into a pumpkin at midnight.”
Isaac chuckled. “I guess not. It justfeelsurgent. Like I have to know, and I have to know now.”
“I get that, but it only feels that way. The only person you need to worry about is you.”
“And you,” Isaac said. “Well not… worry, exactly, but… I have to think about you.”
Julian wasn’t entirely sure what Isaac was getting at, and he was too nervous about all the possibilities to ask.
Instead, he poured soup over his noodles silently, giving the task a whole lot more focus than it needed.
“This is nice,” he said after the pause had gone on too long. “Thank you for coming over tonight. I missed seeing you this week.”
“Me too,” Isaac said. They’d had this conversation earlier, but it couldn’t hurt to have it again. “I can’t stay over, but… assume I’d like to.”
“Assume I’d like you to,” Julian said, a smile playing around his lips. This was safer territory.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Isaac winked at him, grinning broadly.
“Hey, uh… I want you to keep the car,” Julian said.
Isaac blinked, looking between the model and Julian’s face. “But I gave it to you?”
