Rick shook his head. “It’s just frustrating.”
Allen nodded again. Rick had mentioned writing before when he’d said things weren’t the same as they used to be. Allen knew music changed, but he didn’t know how that affected Rick.
“Alright,” Allen said. “I get that.”
Rick kept looking at him. His face appeared to harden, then it was gone a second later. “You shouldn’t.”
Allen furrowed his brow. “What?”
Rick shook his head. “Nothing. Forget it.”
“I’m not scared of you being in a mood.”
Rick glanced down at the table. “I don’t want you dealing with my shit.”
Allen clenched his jaw. “I’m not dealing with you like it’s my job.”
Rick looked back up, but didn’t speak for a moment. His expression softened, and he opened his mouth to say something when the food arrived. Allen smiled and thanked the waiter, then watched Rick stare at his plate. Allen grabbed a fry, dipped it in ketchup, and ate it as he watched Rick.
Allen changed the subject. “Jamie asked about you.”
Rick’s eyes lifted. “Yeah?”
Allen nodded. “Mark too. Connor thinks you’re a serial killer.”
Rick let out a small huff. “I could be.”
Allen watched him, waiting to see if the change in conversation helped. “They told me to message them your address,” Allen added.
Rick’s gaze sharpened. “Did you?”
“No.”
Rick frowned. “Why not?”
Allen held his gaze. “Because you haven’t given me a reason to.”
Rick stared at him for a second, then nodded. “Okay.”
“Do you want me to?”
Rick didn’t hesitate. “No.”
“Why?”
Rick’s jaw tightened. “Because I don’t want your friends involved in this. In us.”
Allen leaned back slightly. He didn’t know what to do with that. Maybe Rick had had people interfere in his previous relationships. That was possible with him being in the music industry. “Okay,” Allen murmured. “You just… seem tense tonight.”
Rick’s eyes stayed on him. “I want this to be just us.”
Allen’s stomach tightened, but he kept his voice even. “It is.”
Rick nodded. “Good.”
Allen ate another fry and tried to leave it alone. He didn’t want to push Rick, but he didn’t like feeling that Rick was holding something back. Maybe work was bothering him more than he wanted it to, and he didn’t want to burden Allen with it.
They finished eating, and Rick paid before Allen could get his wallet out properly. “I can pay sometimes,” Allen said.
