When it was my stop, I stood up, edged out of my seat, and when I was standing at my full height in the aisle, I pulled my headphones off. I turned to say something, but he had his book open, though he was frowning out the window. Only when he seemed to realise where we were, he glanced up, and finding me looking right at him, his smile was instantaneous and he clutched his book to his chest and watched me as I got off the bus.

It made me so happy, I didn’t even try to hide my smile as the bus pulled away.

I went for my usual jog, ate my usual dinner for one, and the next day I went to work with my smile still in place.

Michael took one look at me. “You spoke to him again,” he said, not a question at all. “To that book guy.”

I chuckled. “No.” My grin widened. “But I’m going to.”

Michael had nodded slowly and frowned. It was a look I knew well. He had something to bring up but he wasn’t quite sure how. “Just ask,” I said, pushing away from my desk and giving him my full attention.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” he said dismissively, but from the look on his face, it was clearly something. “It’s stupid and I’m probably speaking out of turn, but can I ask you something?”

I’d always been very honest with Michael, and I had no problem in answering any questions he might have about what asexuality meant for me. But this felt different, and I tried not to be defensive. “Yeah?”

“It’s just.” He laughed and shook his head at himself, then stared out at the Sydney city view from my window. For a moment I didn’t think he was going to say anything else, but then, still without looking at me, he frowned again. “Do you think it’s possible to love two people?”

Wait. What? “Michael, what are you saying?” I whispered. “Are you cheating on Vee? Because that’s not cool, and that’s not like you. Man, I thought you were happy? I thought you were both so happy it was vomit-inducing.”

He laughed. “No, it’s not like that. Of course I’m not cheating on Vee. I would never…”

“Then what is it?”

He shook it off with a bit of a laugh. “Nah, it’s nothing. I’m just thinking about something else.” He grinned at me and laughed it off again. “So, how’s working with Rob?”