Alexa left the meeting early to go work on her web comic while Justin stayed back to discuss a few more game details with Zack. Once she was safely out the door and in her own car he dared to voice something that had been bothering him for a while.
"Zack, I don't mean to pry but knowing Alexa will never like you romantically…why don't you try to date someone else?"
He gave a rueful smile. "So you caught onto what I said."
"Yeah…all I know about the situation is that you guys grew up together and that you still like her despite knowing she's asexual."
"I'll answer your question with a question: why did you stick with Emily so long even though it didn't seem like things would get anywhere?" Zack leaned back in his chair, trying to express nonchalance but exuding an undeniable aura of weariness.
Justin realized it truly was a stupid thing for him to ask. "Because I wanted her to be happy. And I was happy having any sort of contact with her."
