Ray was finding it really hard to figure out why he'd been a jackass to Asher, what with the way his heart was skipping beats and his face was heating up and his hands were getting clammy with nerves. Sure, he could remember why but he couldn't believe he'd ever been suspicious. Not of Asher. The guilt was almost as powerful as the fluttering in his stomach and he was about to blurt out an apology and ask him if he could ever, ever forgive him when...

...Asher had to go and say that. Ray ducked his head instantly, blush rising and oh God, this was so embarrassing. Act cool, Vecchio, but all he could think about was how Asher was probably, maybe, definitely the most beautiful person he'd ever seen, both inside and out, and with the Puppy Love lyrics circling his head, it took a moment for his tongue to actually work.

He let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, a small laugh escaping with it as he looked back up. "You noticed. I've kind of...really, really wanted you to notice." For a whole thirty seconds now but time was irrelevant in matters of the heart. "They're my thing," he admitted, extremely conscious of the fact he was a whole lot closer to Asher now than a moment ago.