Eddy sat on the couch at a respectable distance, the bowl of fruit salad placed on the coffee table, a metaphorical barrier between them. This was all so strange and awkward but it felt necessary, like a visit at the dentist office. Eddy just had to remember not to bite down on the fingers prodding in his mouth... No. Bad analogy. His therapist wouldnt appreciate him comparing a heart-to-heart to pulling teeth.<br/><br/>How the fuck did people do this?<br/><br/>Eddy was silent, not knowing how to begin either. Good thing Luke broke the silence.<br/><br/>He smiled and rubbed his cheek again, his thumb scrap scrap scraping against his beard. (He really should shave.)<br/><br/>"I didnt think you would, sweetheart," Eddy said with a soft smile, "but that's not the only reason why I didnt tell you before. Its uh.... very obvious, the differences between us."<br/><br/>Eddy's age being a huge factor, Eddy's financial security, and now Eddy's fame. The dynamic was highly suspect looking from the outside. Anyone could and would assume that Eddy was taking advantage, preying on Luke 30 years his junior, grooming him. God, that age gap was staggering. It made Eddy feel dirty if he thought about it too hard so he had to be careful, very careful if they were going to continue this... relationship.<br/><br/>There was also the possibility that Luke could be the one to take advantage, that he could prey on Eddy's isolation and loneliness to better his station in life. It's happened, more than once. That certainly was the case with Eddy's ex-husband.<br/><br/>That was the bigger reason why Eddy kept his identity secret, but not the whole reason. Still Eddy had trouble articulating anymore than that, the words getting stuck in his throat. God, it really was like pulling teeth for him.