"Oh—sorry," I mumbled, cheeks heating. "I was just... do you have a tattoo?"
He chuckled and looked down, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah... I do...anyway," he held out the container toward me, almost like a peace offering. "Made you something. Well, technically, my mom's recipe, but I added my own spin. It's ahomemade blueberry crumble. With... um, star-shaped crusts. Like, galaxy crumbs."
I laughed. "Galaxy crumbs?"
He nodded sheepishly. "I thought it sounded cute in my head. Regret it immediately out loud."
"No, I like it," I said, taking the container. "It's very... you."
"Which is to say chaotic, overly thematic, and possibly a sugar bomb?"
"Exactly," I said, grinning.
He looked relieved at my smile.
We stood there for a beat. Not awkward—just still.
"I just...you didn't sound okay yesterday and I wasn't sure if you'd be up for dancing today," he said, voice quieter. "But I thought even if you weren't, I could bring you a snack and talk about random space stuff until you kicked me out."
I looked down at the container in my hands, heart folding a little.
"Come in," I said, stepping aside. "I've got hot chocolate. And I think we both need a little universe in a bowl."
His smile grew, slow and real. " Oh! you are speaking my language now" he laughed, "I'd like that."
He walked in slowly, taking in the soft lighting, the half-eaten breakfast on the table, and the stillness that lingered after a long morning. Then he glanced at me again, brow furrowed just slightly.
"You okay?"
I hesitated. Then nodded once. "Getting there."
I set the crumble down, then turned back to him.
"I didn't go to the studio yesterday," I said. "Aaron showed up. There was... a lot."
He didn't say anything at first. Just listened. His arms crossed loosely, head tilted like he wanted to understand every beat of it.
"I told him about my confrontaion with Aaron, how much he hurt me, about many insecurities he left me with and how I didn't even recognize myself after it.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "For... dumping all this on you. About Aaron. I didn't mean to spiral into a monologue about my ex. It's not fair to you."
He blinked, taken aback for a moment, and then shook his head with that small, breathy laugh he did when he didn't want to sound too intense.
"June," he said, gently, "you don't ever have to apologize to me for confiding"
I looked up at him.
"I don't see it as dumping. I see it as trusting." He stepped a little closer, eyes searching mine. "You let me in. That means more to me than you probably realize."
"But I—"
He held up a hand, softly, like he didn't want to cut me off, just hold the moment still.
"You're allowed to be in the middle of it. You're allowed to say it hurts and if you ever need to talk about Aaron again—or anything, really—you can. As many times as it takes."
I nodded, eyes burning.
He shifted, leaning a little closer. "Can I tell you something nerdy?"
