Steam (Homecoming Hearts #4)(19)

Trent did that thing again where he arched his eyebrow. Ashby hadn’t seen any of his movies, but according to the internet that was a ‘thing’ he did. It certainly had an effect on Ashby’s insides. Although whether that effect was good or bad, he really couldn’t say.

“Use your boot to stop you,” Trent said. He had his own board with only one foot strapped in, so he demonstrated by skating a few feet, then stopping.

“You make it look so easy,” Ashby said weakly.

Trent shrugged. “Because it is.”

Ashby bit his lip and tried not to feel ashamed. But the truth was, he’d had a silly notion that he would be amazing at snowboarding. Like it was a hidden talent he’d been sitting on all this time. Of course he was useless at it, just like everything else.

“Oh,” he said softly. “I must be doing it wrong. I, um, I guess I’ll try again.”

Trent nodded. “You can do it,” he said.

Ashby breathed the cold mountain air in deeply. Trent was probably already regretting offering to come over. But the sooner Ashby got this, the sooner Trent could leave.

Which would undoubtedly be for the best. As mega-hot as Trent was, Ashby didn’t need to be crushing on any straight boys right now. This was supposed to be his man-free getaway.

But then Trent moved over to him and touched his arm. “Hey,” Trent said. “You’ve got this. Just give it a try.”

He smiled and Ashby’s heart came to life. “Oh, okay,” he said, smiling back at him. “Yes, you’re right. How hard can it really be? I’m just letting my giraffe legs get the better of me.”

Trent stepped away and nodded at him. So Ashby took a breath and pushed himself off with his free foot, resting it on the back of the board while the strapped-in foot at the front steered him.

“Now, stop,” Trent instructed.

Ashby didn’t think, he just put his foot down. And stopped. Without falling.

“Ha!” he cried, throwing his hands up. “Amazing!”

Trent smiled. That did dangerous things to Ashby’s heart.

But just because Trent was being pleasant now didn’t mean he wasn’t generally rude and moody by nature. Ashby had to be wary. He’d been swayed too many times in the past by a handsome face and brooding ways.

He needed to find a nice, happy fellow. One who was into men. Trent was neither of those things, so Ashby needed to calm down and focus on the snowboarding.

“Okay,” Trent said. “Next step. Let’s strap you in.”

Ashby gulped. “Oh, sure, okay.”

Trent chuckled. “It’s not that scary.”

But Ashby wasn’t so sure. “How do I stop without a foot free, though?” he said. It made him think of those bicycles which you rode with your feet strapped in. The thought terrified him. He’d be mashed into the pavement in no time if he tried to use pedals like that.

Trent shook his head. “I’ll be right here. Just do what I do.” He dropped his backside to the snow and made fast work of strapping both his feet to the board. He gripped the middle of the board with one hand, then pushed off the snow behind him with his other. “See? No big deal.”

Ashby chewed his lip. Come on, he urged himself. This was what he’d come on holiday for. To try new things, to challenge himself. So he copied Trent and sat down on the ground, snapped the clasps around his boots, then pushed himself back up again, focusing on keeping his balance.

He stood, hands out in anticipation. But he didn’t fall or slip. “I’m starting to believe you when you say this isn’t that hard,” he said sheepishly.

Trent laughed. Fuck, if his smile made Ashby’s heart flip over, his laugh made it flutter like a butterfly.

“Dude, you just need a bit of confidence. That’s all any sport is, really. You gotta believe in yourself.”

“Natural aptitude and athletic prowess do tend to help as well,” Ashby said with a grin. Trent grinned back.

“All right, smartass,” Trent said, lightly slapping Ashby’s arm. “You’re not competing at the Olympics. You’re just trying to have fun. Show me what you got. Believe you can do it.”

Trent shuffled forward by raising his toes over and over again, encouraging the board forward. Then he looked over his shoulder at Ashby, raising that eyebrow again, challenging him.

“Fine,” said Ashby haughtily. “Anything you can do,” he said, mimicking the move, concentrating on keeping his core muscles solid.

But he was stunned when he accomplished the motion with little trouble at all.

Trent whooped. “Hell, yeah, man. You’re getting it.”

Ashby didn’t dare speak until he shuffled his way over to where Trent was standing and came to a halt. “Whoa,” he said. “That was pretty cool.”

“You feel up for some sliding?” Trent asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

Ashby almost balked. But, no, he could do this. “Yes,” he said, nodding. “Show me.”

Trent turned so he was facing down the small slope. “Best to do it together,” he said, shuffling next to Ashby. “Just reach with your hand in whichever direction you want to go, lean into it and let gravity do the rest.” He waited until Ashby set himself up like he had, then together, they leaned.

“Oh my god,” Ashby whispered as they began to move. “Bloody hell, this is brilliant,” he said excitedly.