it all works out

“Do you,” says Dustin, conversationally, “ever feel lonely?”Steve’s fork hesitates, mid-twirl above his spaghetti. His face falls into the expression Dustin’s come to know as thinking hard, which is rare for Steve. His eyebrows twist together, and underneath his eyes do a little flick to the ceiling above, as if the curling water stain is suddenly going to change shape and spell out the answer to Dustin’s question. He opens his mouth, closes it, and then opens it again. Dustin stares. “Blink twice if I broke you.”