The hug does surprise John more than slightly, but he's grateful for it nevertheless. Raising his arms, he moves to wrap them around the other man in turn, tucking his head into Jim's shoulder and letting out a soft breath before shaking his head in reply to the other man's words.
"Not mad," he reassures gently. "I do understand why you had to tell her. I understand why you felt you could not hide such a thing from a person you cared for any longer. Believe me, my friend, I -- I know how it feels, to have a secret that eats away at you inside. I just..." He squeezes his arms around the other man gently, attempting to be reassuring, hoping that he will understand.
"I -- need time. To adjust. To the idea of... Sharing in this. It is not something I had thought that I could, you understand. The only reason I have shared such a thing with you is the fact that we have been together. And it is not because I do not trust you, but it is because it has been the way of things. The only way I've known."
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"Not mad," he reassures gently. "I do understand why you had to tell her. I understand why you felt you could not hide such a thing from a person you cared for any longer. Believe me, my friend, I -- I know how it feels, to have a secret that eats away at you inside. I just..." He squeezes his arms around the other man gently, attempting to be reassuring, hoping that he will understand.
"I -- need time. To adjust. To the idea of... Sharing in this. It is not something I had thought that I could, you understand. The only reason I have shared such a thing with you is the fact that we have been together. And it is not because I do not trust you, but it is because it has been the way of things. The only way I've known."