"I mean attractive," Casey said in defense of their word choice. Of course Gabriel was handsome too, but there were a lot of other ways to describe someone that were just as acceptable. Then again, Casey hated being called handsome or fine or anything like that, and briefly wondered if Gabriel felt the same about the reverse. "Bet you look amazing even when you're not all fancy for a date."

Egos were just fine. Casey could even learn a thing or two from watching Gabriel operate.

"You're basically the best thing that's happened to me," they said, biting their bottom lip momentarily before nodding and turning to look ahead instead. Someone who seemed so thoroughly invested and loving toward Casey without asking for anything in return was almost too good to be true. "So you couldn't possibly do that. As long as you don't mind being with a... a sissy boy or whatever," they added in a self-conscious mumble.