At the time he hadn't liked Christian, cocky as he was and AJ wasn't, but there'd always been that curiosity. Why had the man smiled, even though AJ had done nothing but squint? Why had AJ felt like it meant something?
Right now, as they prepared for their next promo - one after another, again, and again, and again - he was positive Christian was doing just that; doing something with underlying meaning. Perhaps it was the hand on his back - burning - perhaps the way Christian was leaning into him, or perhaps it had been the throaty chuckle at AJ's cheeky smile. Either way, AJ was glad he could like Christian now, and as Christian whispered of a promise - what promise, AJ wondered, though he knew - he wanted nothing more but to act like him, too.