Stephen chuckled. "That's not what I meant. I don't mind if you do. In fact, the closer the better." He returned the kiss, smiling the entire time.
"I know, baby, I understand, okay? But last year, my brain said something and it wasn't really connecting with everything else I knew. Overthinking isn't always for the best, especially when it's about people and they don't fit in neat boxes, but it was the only way I knew how to do things. I couldn't let you hurt me again, not when everything else was shitty already." Stephen couldn't believe things had changed so much in a year. He felt better about them, but he felt better about himself and that was all Adrian's doing. "Well, you can leave, I'll just have to come with you."