The door opened just far enough for Ash’s arm to come through. Truman took the clothes, heart beating quickly.

“Thanks. You can…um…go down to the shop if you need to. I can meet you down there.”

Ash made a sound that could have been assent or thanks and closed the door.

The sweatpants were gray and the long-sleeved T-shirt was a faded blue. No, not faded. Ash’s things weren’t faded, they were softened. Every color, every fabric, soft and worn in. It reminded Truman of Ash himself.

He tried to towel his hair into some semblance of order. The shirt was far more casual than what he generally wore, but he liked it. It said that Ash cared about comfort more than what people thought of him. It wasn’t a true thought for Truman, but he wished it were.

Outside the bathroom, it was cold. Not wanting to rifle through Ash’s possessions looking for a sweater, he plucked a cream-colored blanket off the couch and wrapped it around himself. Then he padded down the stairs in Ash’s too-big but very warm wool socks.

Ash was standing at the counter, fiddling with a white rose, a frown etching the line between his brows deeper. He looked up and his eyes widened slightly.

“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” Ash said.

“Huh?” Ash plucked at the blanket wrapped around him and Truman said, “Oh, ha.”

Ash stripped off his own sweater and handed it to Truman. It was still warm from his body, and Truman let himself relax into the warmth of the garment’s hug.

“Listen,” Ash said just as Truman said, “Sorry I…”

Truman closed his mouth and gestured for Ash to go ahead.

“I freaked out yesterday.” Ash flushed. “You started talking about to-do lists, and I just…”

“I got totally overenthusiastic. I knew it. I told them.”

“No, you didn’t. Wait, told who?”

“No one,” Truman said quickly and clamped his mouth shut.

“It wasn’t you, that’s what I’m trying to say. I’m…”

Ash put his forearms down on the counter and dropped his head between them. His voice, when the words came, sounded echoey, like it was coming from underwater.

“I’m kind of barely keeping it together right now. The shop is fucked. My mom is… Anyway.” He lifted his head. “When you started getting to the part where I’d have to do more work to make these ideas happen, I just panicked. Because I feel like I’m already drowning.”

Bruce came and nuzzled Ash’s leg in comfort, and Ash scratched between his ears.

“I’m sorry I ran out last night. I had to get to my mom’s and I just… Yeah. Anyway, all during dinner with her last night, I was thinking about what we discussed. The ideas are great. I just need to work myself up to taking on new things.”