Henry stayed in Liam’s arms for a while before Liam finally spoke.

“You’ve been quiet.” Liam said. “Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?”

Henry hesitated. “I miss Ava… but that’s not it.”

“Then what is?”

Henry looked up at him. “We’re dating, right?”

The question caught Liam off guard. He cared about Henry, that much was true but certainty had never been his strength still seeing the worry in Henry’s eyes he nodded “Yeah.”

“And you wouldn’t say yes if someone else asked you out?”

Liam felt like something heavy was placed on his chest. Commitment had never come easily to him. Instead of answering, he changed the subject.

“Did someone say something to you?”

Henry nodded.

Liam smiled softly and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “You don’t have to worry.”

Henry wanted more than reassurance. He reached for Liam, kissing him, he was unsure at first, but honest. Liam responded, pulling him closer and for a moment the world narrowed to warmth and closeness and everything they weren’t ready to say out loud.

Later, when the room finally grew quiet, Liam brushed his thumb across Henry’s cheek.

“Let’s stop here,” he said gently. “We should sleep.”

The disappointment lingered, but Henry nodded. He didn’t want to push.

They laid down together in the dark, bodies close, questions unanswered, sharing the night but it wasn’t the one Henry had hoped for.