Dallas was clearly shocked after Axel's confession. That reaction made Axel realize, with a pang of panic, that maybe Dallas hadn't even considered the possibility that Axel could feel that way about him.
Axel panicked for a moment.
What if Dallas thought he had only confessed that he was developing feelings for him only because things with Ivan weren't working out?
What if he thought Axel was just looking for someone to distract him from thinking about Ivan?
It was possible... Axel knew Dallas was fully aware of how deeply he still loved Ivan, and that made him even more afraid that Dallas might misunderstand his confession.
He knew he had to say something to make sure Dallas understood that it wasn't about Ivan, that this wasn't just a passing impulse or a rebound. He needed Dallas to know that his feelings for him were real.
"Dallas, I..." He started, trying to explain himself before Dallas could jump to the wrong conclusion,
