"Yeah, that's okay," I tell him, toeing off my own shoes and wrapping an arm around Bittle's waist. I'm clutching him tightly enough that his feet barely touch the floor, and I kiss his forehead as I lead us down the hall.

"We don't have to do everything tonight," I murmur, reassuring myself just as much as him. "We can just see where it goes, eh? I just want to touch you."