"Calm down," Dallas said when he realized Ivan was spiraling further and further.
"I don't think I can do that, Dallas, even if I wanted to," Ivan replied immediately, his voice strained. "I want to think this is a good thing. That I'm going to have a child with the person I love… but everything else is a mess."
He ran a hand through his hair again.
"I want to think maybe my father will finally stop giving me a hard time about who I should be with and who I shouldn't," he continued. "But even after all this time, I've never really understood what his problem actually is…"
"Ivan," Dallas called sharply, and Ivan stopped mid-sentence. "You cannot tell anyone about this. Not even your father."
Ivan frowned, confused, but Dallas pressed on before he could speak.
