Page 26 of Love Limits

And today he’d been acting like the daddiest Daddy ever to daddy.

Zhong was going to make them a lunch to take to work tomorrow! And dinner later this week. From there, it wasn’t at all difficult to imagine Zhong making dinner every night while they colored at the table, which may as well have been what had just happened. Though playing with their food was much better, really.

They could already imagine Zhong interrupting them when they got lost in a project to bring them a slice of toast and jam. Or tossing them a ball while they frolicked around as a pup.

They knew it was a bit too soon to get attached, but this was different from every date they’d ever been on and the short, limited scenes they’d had at Escape.

They skipped over to the couch, letting Zhong carry the two hot bowls. He set them down on the coffee table.

Here, turn sideways so that your back is against the arm of the couch. Zhong indicated with a gesture. He spread a hand towel over their lap. In case it’s too hot, he explained. Or if you make a mess. You’re wearing white.

Total swoony-ness. Other people could keep their roses and chocolates. Ash got a clean but slightly stained dish towel draped over their lap and it was about the sweetest thing they could imagine.

Not that they would object to chocolates and roses either, of course.

Zhong picked up another bowl and towel, then arranged himself at the other end of the couch so that their legs were tangled together. He rubbed his sock-covered foot against Ash’s thigh, like a sort of foot cuddle, and dug into his meal.

Ash understood the sideways thing now. They could eat, snuggle, and talk to each other all at the same time.

They took a first bite and flavors exploded in their mouth. Every vegetable was perfectly itself, and seasoned exquisitely. It was light and savory, not at all like the overly sweet and greasy Americanized Chinese food they often ordered. This is delicious. They took another bite. Like the best thing I’ve eaten in a year.

Zhong gave them a wide smile. I really do love to cook. And I hate cooking for myself. So come over any time.

Oh, they definitely, definitely would.

I used to cook with Dustin. We’d invite people over a lot, Zhong explained.

This was in college? Is that where you guys met? Ash was hoping to unpack some of the mysteries that lay between the two of them.

Yeah. We were housemates here, too, for about six years.

Really? Like at his house? Maybe Ash could get the story behind that big, fancy house, too.

Yeah. He inherited it from his great-aunt, and since we both knew we’d be working from home, it was nice. He sighed wistfully.

Ash took a moment to process that. People didn’t usually move to the suburbs of a new city just to live with a friend. Maybe for a year after college, but not for so long beyond that. Zhong didn’t seem like he needed help to pay the rent.

There had been something about the way the two of them interacted together that made Ash wonder just how close they were.

Were you… a couple? They finally asked.

Zhong sighed. No… I mean, we were best friends. We still are, really. And I guess we had… some kind of relationship?

You’re in love with him, Ash said simply. They felt their hopes withering in their chest.

Zhong took a large bite and chewed carefully. Even more slowly, he perched the bowl in his lap. He didn’t seem to be stalling, though, so much as thinking. I don’t know if I’m in love with him or not. But I definitely love him.

That explained the mixture of pleased and pained expressions Ash had seen last week when Zhong had watched Dustin and Landon together.

Ash didn’t have a chance against fifteen years of unrequited love. Not if Zhong was still holding out hope like he seemed to be. Ash had clearly misunderstood the situation.

Even if Zhong was trying to move on, Ash didn’t want to be the proxy for anyone else. Maya and Soren had always had each other. Ash’s relationship before that had been a huge tangle of poly drama, ending with their primary partners choosing to go monogamous and shutting Ash out. They were not going down that road again.

While they were working through all of their reactions, though, Zhong was still struggling to explain himself. Ash squashed down their disappointment and reminded themselves that they’d only known Zhong for a week. Everything else was dreams and fantasies.

They made up their mind to be a good friend. Do you want to tell me more?

Zhong looked at them gratefully. Do you mind? I’m just starting to figure out a lot of things, and I don’t have a lot of people to talk to.