"You keep saying that, but then you turn around and basically ask me for an answer in not so many words," Joel argued. He pushed his fingers through his hair and frowned again. "Maybe I don't want to share what's in my head right now because I don't know if it's gonna change," He crossed his arms again. "And maybe...." he finally looked over at Brand again, which sucked because now he had to look at the stupid sad puppy eyes again. "Maybe if you hadn't sat on your thoughts in your own head for so many years, I wouldn't feel so wary of handing mine over after a much shorter period of time." Was that thought process mean? It felt mean. It wasn't fair, right? To expect him to have status updates. It wasn't as if Brand had checked in with him periodically over the years to inform him that he was developing complex feelings for him. How was it fair at all that 14 days was the equivalent of that or more in years? Right? Maybe. Joel frowned. Again.