Mark's smile slowly faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry I made you feel that way. But I honestly can't believe you're jealous of your own best friend."
"I'm not jealous of him!" Charles shot back, immediately turning to glare at him. "You're the one who likes his personality way more than mine."
Mark nodded without arguing.
"You're right," he admitted calmly. "I do like Adrian."
Charles's eyes widened. A sharp ache settled in his chest.
"I knew it," he whispered bitterly. "I knew you liked him."
Mark let out a quiet sigh.
"I do like him," he said. "But not in the way your overthinking mind has convinced you. I like him because he's my twin brother's boyfriend. He's someone important to my brother, so naturally I care about him too."
Mark shook his head.
"But romantically?" A small, disbelieving laugh escaped him. "Charles… he's with Matteo. He's practically family to me. How could you even think I'd see him that way?"
