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Toby gnaws on the inside of his cheek as he considersfor the gunshot at the start of a race After a while, he sighs “I can’t I just … I look at you, and I freak out, and I feel like I—”

“Just do this” I reach around the back of his neck, pull his face to le ti else fades away like it was never there Neither of us want to ood as we feel when our lips are together It nearly hurts each time a kiss ends, like I’m already desperate for the next, but I pull away and stare into his eyes “Tell ”

“Uh, like at this rate, you and I are going to be very convincing by opening night”

“Forget Kingsley and Danny They aren’t real” I gently take hold of his chin His eyes lock onto ht now Not Danny I’”

Toby searches my eyes in a panic “I’m … I’m so …” He lets out a frustrated huff “I’?”

“Are you into me?”

“Into you?”

“Yeah Do you likeeven worse “Look, just say it If you do, you do If you don’t, you don’t That’s hoe do it where I’m from You say what you mean You don’t dance around the truth You dive into the deep end and kick ‘til you swirow some balls and say it”

Toby stiffens up, turning indignant “I’ve got balls,” he states, “and … yes Yes, alright? I figured you knew by now that I … well, whatever, yes, I like you Obviously”

“So we’ve got that in common as well I like you, too, Toby”

That indignant glare he’s giving me softens at once

I guess that bit of information came as a surprise to him

“And with that out of the way,” I go on, “you can relax now”

“I am relaxed,” he insists, totally not relaxed

“And we can keep kissing each other until you’re ready to get on with the script You know, since scene five does exist If we’re … even still bothering with the rest of the script tonight”