Steam (Homecoming Hearts #4)(38)

“You’re from England?” Gabe asked, slipping his arm around Joey’s waist. Joey was still looking between Trent and Ashby with a slightly open mouth and wide eyes. He was definitely putting two and two together and getting five.

“I am,” said Ashby proudly. “Well, lately. I spent my childhood in Singapore, but lately, I hale from London, specifically. I’m on holiday at Trent’s dad’s resort and we made friends. He’s been teaching me to snowboard.”

That got Gabe off on a snow sports tangent. He and Joey had been skiing over Christmas and being the natural athlete he was, he’d loved it. But Joey’s attention was still on Ashby, alight with curiosity.

Trent caught Ashby’s eye. “I’m just going to go check us in,” he said.

He hoped Ashby wouldn’t mind talking to his friends for a minute, but the front desk was now clear. Trent didn’t want to stand here getting grilled for hours, even if it was by his best friends. He’d rather they escaped to their room for a bit and minimized awkward questions. Because, yes, they were here as friends. But Joey was absolutely going to want to get to the bottom of why Trent had pretended to be Ashby’s boyfriend in the first place, and Trent didn’t have a good enough answer.

Which was probably exactly why Joey peeled off and joined Trent as he walked toward the desk. Trent glanced back at Ashby standing with Gabe and all their luggage. “I’m just getting the room key, little man,” he said to Joey, using his old nickname for Below Zero’s youngest member.

“So, you’re sharing a room,” Joey prompted, his eyes twinkling.

Trent sighed. “There are only so many rooms in this place,” he said, trying not to get irritable. It wasn’t a usual hotel, after all. Even though it was a big manor house, there still weren’t enough rooms for them to go side by side. “We had to share, but it’s a double. It’s fine.”

The truth was, even with two beds in the room, Trent was slightly nervous. It was a lot to share a space with someone for one night, let alone two. But he was sure he and Ashby would survive.

Trent could feel Joey grinning up at him as they approached the desk. “What?” Trent all but snapped.

“Nothing,” Joey said in a singsong voice.

Trent was aware of his friend continuing to watch him as he checked in and gave the girl behind the desk his card. Trent ignored him until he had his and Ashby’s keycards in hand. Then he moved halfway between the desk and where Gabe and Ashby were standing.

“Seriously, dude,” Trent growled. “Don’t make this weird. I know he likes me, but I’m not bi, am I? So don’t make him uncomfortable. He’s been a great friend to me.”

Rather than look sheepish, Joey just narrowed his eyes at Trent. Being with Gabe had done wonders for his confidence. Ordinarily, Trent would argue that was a very good thing. But not when he was keenly aware he was about to get that grilling he’d been trying to avoid anyway.

“He likes you,” Joey said. “And you’ve brought him to one of your best friends’ wedding as a plus one…and you’re telling me you don’t feel even a teeny tiny bit curious if there’s something there?”

Trent glanced at Ashby who was happily talking to Gabe, fluttering his hands about. Trent bit his lip. Joey gasped.

He grabbed Trent by the lapel of his leather jacket and yanked him closer. “You do like him,” he hissed as excitedly as he could while keeping his voice down.

Trent glowered and batted Joey’s hands away. “Yes, he’s a nice guy,” he told him firmly. “Really nice. But I’m not into dudes. It’s nothing personal.”

Joey gave him an infuriatingly smug smile. “I just think you shouldn’t shut yourself off to any possibilities, that’s all.” He patted Trent’s arm, then skipped back toward his husband.

Trent tried not to grind his teeth. When Ashby glanced over to him as he approached, he forced himself to smile. “I’ve got our keys,” he said, holding them up. “Shall we go freshen up?”

“Absolutely,” Ashby said. He wheeled Trent’s carryon over to him before taking the handle of his own. “Flying leaves you feeling so urgh, doesn’t it?” he said to Gabe and Joey who both frowned and nodded in complete agreement. “Gabe was saying they were planning on meeting for dinner with some of your other friends,” Ashby said, raising his eyes at Trent.

“Levi and Raiden are here,” Gabe explained. “I think Levi and I were going to entertain Elion in his room while Joey met with Rai and Blake.” He nudged Joey affectionately. “Getting the band back together and all that.”

“Why don’t you two join us?” Joey asked. “Respectively, I mean.”

Trent paused, glancing at Ashby. He really wasn’t sure about leaving him at the mercy of his overenthusiastic friends. “We’ll let you know,” he said quickly, not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings. He’d see how Ashby felt first. “For now, we’ll make ourselves more human, then drop you a message.”

“Good plan,” said Ashby, still smiling. He turned to Trent’s friends. “It was lovely to meet you,” he said, betraying his first small hint of being star-struck as he glanced at Joey. “See you soon.”

His sweet and earnest nature managed to thaw out Trent’s irritability somewhat as they made their way up the stairs. It was hard to be pissed off when he was near such a joyous soul.