It's not that Nick doesn't realize that's an option, it's that he had felt a sort of unspoken pressure, and until Teddy says those words, he doesn't realize he's doing that to himself, and he doesn't have to.

He nods his head, eyes looking at the table for a moment. "You're right. I wasn't thinking of it in those exact terms."

Nick's eyes scan his phone, and he bookmarks a couple of things to look more into for later.

"That's amazing. And it does give you," he has to stop himself and remind himself he's not an imposter because he's bisexual and not gay, "us, someone to look toward."