He looked intense, agitated, and brimming with emotions. I had never seen him so vulnerable before, so open. He genuinely liked me, and I wasn't imagining it.

"I told him I wanted to ask you out, but he told me not to. He said he didn't want me to invite you to move in and potentially make things difficult for you. He thought I was too 'rough' for you and didn't want to put you in his room if he thought you wouldn't be happy, or if he believed I would make a move on you. So, I did what ...