[. . . honestly. he can't even be offended. the nature of their work differs, but the fleeting nature of their lives-- the way things change at the drop of a hat, people drifting in and out of their physical spheres, leaving nothing but a wisp of a memory behind-- is. . . similar]

Nah. There was never a chance of that happening.

[even if someone had come up to him after their conversation on the porch and told him-- point blank-- that they knew for certain his show-assigned "perfect match" was someone else. as if to punctuate that point, he glides his palm up Rom's back again, until fingers find fluffy black locks that he can ruffle]

There are lots of reasons for that. But I guess the second most important one is--

[he grins, though his smile stays pressed warmly against the soothing rhythm of Rom's heart]

-- it's one of the first choices I've ever gotten to make on my own terms. With no one pushing me in one direction or another.

[not even Ringo's math]

. . . so it was pretty nice of you to let me have it.

[that's the second most important reason. the most important one is, of course, what he feels deep in the recesses of his own heart]