Steam (Homecoming Hearts #4)(41)

“Really?” Gabe said with a frown. “Sorry, Joey and I just assumed.”

He stood again, fetching the bottle of fizz to top them all up. The first glass of bubbly was going down a little too easily, but Ashby was nervous and needed the Dutch courage.

Elion knocked back the rest of his drink, then held up his glass for a refresh. He too was frowning. “So,” he said while Gabe played waiter. “You’re not here as TJ’s date?” He didn’t sound convinced.

Ashby waved his hand and smiled despite his apprehension. “Oh no,” he insisted. “We’re just friends. It’s a funny story, though.” He skipped over the slightly rocky start and explained how Trent had offered to teach him some snowboarding, then rescued him from that creep Kiefer. “Seeing as there’s going to be a bit of press coverage here, Trent and I thought it best to keep up the charade just in case Kiefer went prying. Besides, this way I don’t have to spend the weekend alone hiding in my room so I didn’t risk seeing him. I get to go to a lovely wedding instead!”

He grinned and took another glug of bubbly. But the three curious faces looking at him told him that he was missing something.

“Um,” Ashby began. “Doesn’t Trent normally make new friends?” It probably wasn’t the exact question he wanted to ask. But it was the easiest and safest.

“It’s not that…” Elion said slowly.

“Well, yeah,” said Gabe, bobbing his head. “He normally doesn’t make friends unless he, um…”

“Unless he’s got his mind on fucking,” drawled Levi, looking at Ashby through his golden eyelashes.

Ashby choked on his drink, slopping it down his T-shirt. “Oh, bugger,” he said as he coughed. He brushed at the liquid, embarrassed. “No, no, Trent is straight. I know that.”

He could feel his eyes were wide as he looked around the room, imploring them to believe him. Elion had already jumped up to grab him some tissues and Gabe leaned forward to replace the Champagne he had lost. Levi shook his head and patted Ashby’s knee. His face was kind.

“I wasn’t being a prick,” he murmured. His manner was very intense. “I was simply stating a fact. Why? Aren’t you interested?”

Ashby wasted a few seconds mopping up his T-shirt. It was already almost dried. “Trent’s straight,” he said again for emphasis.

Elion waved his hands, risking spilling his own drink. “But what if he weren’t?” He regarded Ashby for a moment as he struggled for words. He desperately didn’t want to incriminate himself. But Elion hopped up and nestled himself between Ashby and Levi, putting his arm around Ashby’s shoulders. “I thought Blake was straight, too,” he said warmly. “Levi was so convinced Raiden was straight Rai had to practically jump him before he would take him seriously.”

“Hey,” Levi growled, nudging Elion’s leg with his foot. But his smile showed he wasn’t really offended.

“My point is,” Elion continued, “have you told him how you feel?”

“What makes you think I feel something for him beyond friendship?” Ashby stammered. “Can’t we just be friends? I know he’s deliriously hot and talented and successful, but, well, I just got out of a long-term relationship, actually, and I’m quite happy being friends.”

He was met with three sets of raised eyebrows.

Ashby dropped his shoulders and let his head fall back as he cried out in frustration. Fine. If these almost-strangers wanted to play at being his therapist, so be it.

“All right,” he conceded. “I’ve told him numerous times that I think he’s gorgeous and one night I actually invited him into my room. But he politely declined and I’m grateful we’re still friends after all that.”

Elion bounced on the bed and squeezed his shoulder. “You hit on him and he still invited you to a wedding?”

“Uhh,” Ashby said. “Look, please don’t read too much into it.” Please don’t get my hopes up.

Gabe smiled sympathetically at Ashby. “Sorry,” he said, his gaze flicking to the other two on the bed. “It’s just, well, Joey and I must have mistaken your body language earlier. You seemed very coupley.”

“I’ve known TJ for almost three years now,” Elion said. He still had his arm around Ashby’s back. It was comforting. “And Levi’s right. He doesn’t really make new guy friends. Not one he would bring to a wedding if there wasn’t something romantic lurking there. I’m sure of it.”

“He’d just fly solo and force everyone to drink tequila until they couldn’t feel their legs anymore,” Levi said dryly, then sipped his Champagne. “Ask me how I know.”

“Yeah, we were putting pressure on him to bring a date to this wedding,” Gabe explained. “But that was because we thought he was hiding someone special from us.”

Elion squeezed Ashby’s arm again and wiggled his eyebrows at him.

But Ashby shook his head. “We only met this week,” he said again. “And if it weren’t for the whole Kiefer business, he would have just come alone. Like you said.” He toyed with the hem of his T-shirt. “I’m not special.” He tried to laugh, but it came out a little sad.

Elion scoffed and looked Ashby dead in the eye. “You seem absolutely charming to me.”