Page 33 of Wear It Like a Crown

“New place next week,” Kylie announced as the first few kids were about to scuttle away. “We’ll send the location to Kev and Stacy, so hit them up for info.”

“That aside, anyone up for a game of footie?” Leo asked, and a weak cheer went up from the usual suspects. Seven against eight, not too shabby when not that long ago, he’d have considered a handful of players a good turnout.

From personal experience, he knew that trust was hard to gain and easy to lose out here. More than a year in, he figured they were doing all right.

If Leo were to keep a list of his busiest days ever, the following Monday and Tuesday would be at the top. True, there was also that time they’d handled a kidnapping and sleep had consisted of a couple of hours here and there, curled up under his desk with a jumper for his pillow—but he’d been following James’ lead. This time, Leo was the one who had to hold it all together, juggle preparations and check the boxes, work out the narrative, revise it, and then revise it again.

If Joshua’s coming out went to hell, it was Leo who would be accountable. Even more so as he’d played a role in Joshua’s decision to go through with it.

Sleep was for the weak.

“Ten,” Leo said.

Joshua sagged back in his chair and stared at Leo’s computer screen. The displayed article, written by James’ regular contact attheSun, insinuated just enough to get the rumour mill started and test the waters without having to commit. Citing a fictitious source “very close to the Prince”, it was illustrated with a picture of Joshua and Mo, heads bent together as they laughed at something.

Leo cleared his throat. “Nine.”

“Maybe not with the picture of me and Mo?” Joshua asked, then groaned and slid further down. “No, fine. I know they need something that works with the text.Fine.”

“Better Mo than some random shot of you with a bloke, and then the poor sod won’t know what hit him.” Leo waited three seconds. “Eight.”

“Seven,” Joshua said.

“Six.” For some reason, Leo’s chest felt tight. “Promise you’ll stay away from the internet and keep a low profile after this hits, at least for a few days. No Google until Monday.”

“I’ll try.”

“Good enough, I guess.” Leo moved the mouse to hover above the button that would send his email, the message consisting of a simple “Okay.” He watched Joshua’s face for a reaction. “Five.”

Joshua looked pale, but determined. “Four.”

“You’re not going to pass out, are you? Need a minute outside, some fresh air? A cup of tea?”

“Three,” Joshua replied. “Two.”

Leo inhaled and held the air in his lungs. He felt weightless and ready to burst, radiant as though the very veins in his body were filled with light. “One.”

The smile Joshua gave him was wobbly. “Zero,” he whispered. “Go.”

Leo sent the message.

They were both silent while the recall option was displayed, counting down the seconds from ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three two one. And over. Joshua folded into himself, smallerthan Leo had seen him before, stripped of his usual cheer. His voice was toneless. “Oh God.”

Leo hesitated. Very carefully, slowly, he reached out to give Joshua’s shoulder a gentle pat.

It was Joshua who closed the gap between their chairs. He slid to the edge of his seat, their knees knocking together as he pulled Leo into a tight hug, burying his face against Leo’s neck and taking huge breaths that shuddered through his body. For a beat, Leo sat frozen, all thoughts screeching to a halt.

“Sorry,” Joshua mumbled, the word rough and thick. “Sorry, I just needed—sorry.”

He was about to pull away when Leo finally jolted out of it, bringing his arms up around Joshua’s back to keep him close. Pressing his nose into Joshua’s hair, he registered something that smelled sweet and light, like apples and mint. It was probably wrong on several levels that he even noticed in a situation like this.

“Hey, little prince?” Leo moulded it into a low murmur. “I’m really proud of… I’m so proud to be part of this. And I hope you’re proud of yourself.”

Joshua hitched in some air. He relaxed back against Leo, and it took a short while before he answered. “Don’t know how I feel. Just kind of numb right now, to be honest.”

“Do you want me to call Mo?” Leo tightened his hold. “Or Tristan? Tell them to come get you?”

Joshua’s sigh shivered over Leo’s skin. “In a minute, yeah. Just give me a minute.”