There was a quiet, meek noise at the hand up to their cheek. Casey wasn't quite expecting that and it was a more than welcome motion, their automatic reaction being to bring their free hand to cover their mouth... but Gabriel's hand was in the way and they just ended up hanging their hand over his wrist while their face turned redder and redder for the attention. This guy knew how to say just the right thing and Casey didn't doubt the sincerity for a moment.

"Yeah. I'd like that. But—" They paused, realization hitting them all over again. This was real. For some unfathomable and miraculous reason, Gabriel really was interested in Casey and it was all Casey could do to accept that fact and try to reciprocate as much as they were able. Gabriel had to know how they felt, too, even if they weren't so great at expressing it, right? "But that means we've got to keep sticking together. So you'll know what you're thinking about."