"Hey," Tommy complained, even if he smiled too, 'cause yeah, he was. "I could pull off boring. Just channel Billy and talk about Game of Thrones for an hour or something."

It's not even dread. It's more ... baffled worry over how natural it feels, and how the idea of pulling away just seems ... not right. Tommy didn't know how to define it. He just thought it was him, too. Teddy was nervous and petting because of it - Tommy was the one who wanted to kiss him. So it was on him probably.

"Yeah. Maybe it just ... opens up when it's needed," Tommy said. He made an effort and caught Teddy's hand where his thumb was stroking. He didn't move it away just kind of ... moved it up a little. So it wasn't right where his shirt was riding up and leaving bare skin.