My friends wouldn't let me say, to my lunch invite-ee "If you're busy/I'm being too forward/you'd rather be eaten by a rabid octopus, that's totally cool. I promise not to be awkward and pouty around you/wear a shirt that says '[name removed to protect the innocent]* didn't want to be my friend' and cry whenever someone mentions you."
Patrick says, if he were straight, he's pretty sure we'd be dating right now. That is, for what it's worth, encouraging.
*I didn't really want to say "name removed to protect the innocent" I wanted to say his name - which I have removed...to protect the innocent.