Rick didn’t move. “Panic.”
Allen stared at him, then at the phone. His thumb hovered over the screen. He could leave it. He could pretend he hadn’t seen it. With a shaky sigh, Allen cleared the notification, then went into his alerts and turned off the setting so the news wouldn’t push more updates to his screen.
He knew it didn’t change what had happened, but it changed something inside Allen. He’d made his choice.
Rick watched him do it and reached out, taking Allen’s hand. His thumb stroked across Allen’s knuckles. “There,” Rick said. “Better.”
Rick finished putting the food out as if everything were normal. Allen sat at the table and forced down a few bites. They didn’t talk much while they ate. Rick asked one question about Allen’s week, and Allen answered. It was the closest they’d come to normal since Allen had found the phone. When the food was gone, Rick cleaned up without being asked, moving around the kitchen as he cleaned.
Allen’s phone buzzed again. A message from Connor, which he ignored. Rick saw it but didn’t comment. He just walked back over and rested his hand on Allen’s shoulder and left it there.
Allen stared at the table. “I shouldn’t want you,” Allen said finally. “I shouldn’t miss you when you leave. I shouldn’t feel better when you walk back in.”
Rick didn’t move. “Allen—”
Allen laughed. “You’re not safe.”
“I’m safe for you.”
Allen’s jaw clenched. “That’s not the same thing.”
“No,” Rick said. “It isn’t.”
Allen looked up at Rick and swallowed. “I tried to be normal. I tried to think this was… a weird coincidence. A bad week. Anything but what it is.”
Rick’s hand slid from Allen’s shoulder to his jaw, tilting Allen’s face up. “And?” Rick asked.
Allen’s voice came out smaller than he wanted. “And it didn’t work.”
Rick’s thumb moved once against Allen’s cheekbone. “Because you know me now.”
Allen stared at him. “I know what you are.”
Rick didn’t deny it. “Yes.”
Allen’s chest tightened. “And I still—” He stopped. His mouth went dry.
Rick leaned in slightly, eyes on Allen’s. “Say it.”
He didn’t look away this time. “I love you,” he said, his voice shaking.
Rick went still, and for a second, Allen thought he might do something, but he didn’t. He just stared. “You love me?” he asked quietly.
Allen nodded once. “Yeah.”
“You shouldn’t,” he murmured.
Allen’s laugh came out broken. “I know.”
Rick’s hand slid to the back of Allen’s neck and held him. “But you do anyway.”
Allen swallowed. “Yes.”
Rick’s voice dropped. “Good.”
Allen’s stomach flipped at the word. At the satisfaction he heard in it. Rick leaned down and kissed him. Allen kissed him back because there was no point pretending he didn’t want it.
When Rick pulled away, he stayed close. “I love you,” Rick said.
