“Yeah. I’ve started to figure that out,” Mike replied with a gentle smile.
“And that’s all. You figured it out and you don’t care. I’m a friend, if that, and nothing more. I get it.”
“Please sit,” Mike said. “We have to talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Sage retorted tightly. Still, he hesitated, then sat.
“When someone says they like me, I figure we need to…Explore the feeling?”
“Obviously this isn’t the first time someone’s said it to you,” Sage replied snarkily.
“No.” Mike smiled. “However, it is the first time I’ve given serious thought to the idea that I might give a damn that they did.” He looked at Sage. “That you did—do.”
Sage felt a leap of hope, then promptly quashed it. He’s going to tell me he likes me too, as a friend, and leave it at that.