Page 91 of Wear It Like a Crown
Stuff, it reminded Nate ofstuff. Leo wanted to ask, only it would have meant giving up a few secrets of his own in turn. He thought that by now he’d be fine with that. Probably. Just… not tonight. Not when Joshua’s face on the screen was still too fresh in his memory.
You don’t have to fit the norm to belong.
“I’ve noticed,” Leo said eventually. “So that’d be tomorrow morning, then?”
“Yeah, flight leaves at eight. But you don’thaveto,” Nate rushed to add. “You can stay over either way, but I thought—or you can stay in the car, if you prefer. Avoid Joshua.”
It would be Leo’s last chance to see Joshua in person for a whole two weeks. Or longer, much longer, depending on how soon there’d be a reason for them to meet once Joshua was back. At this point, their only connection was through Nate and Mo.
Leo should let it go.
“I can drive,” he said. “I’m not sure yet whether I’ll want to see Joshua, but… Yeah, I can definitely drive. Seeing Mo off at the airport, though—bit cheesy, isn’t it? In a teeth-rotting, sweet kind of way. Does that mean you’re official now?”
“Sort of?” Nate put his arm around Leo’s shoulder, tone hesitant. “It’s not like—we haven’t really talked about it. Part of why I want to see him, if I’m honest. Need to make sure I’m not making this into more than it is.”
Giving Nate’s waist a squeeze, Leo smiled at him. “No, I’m quite certain you’re perfectly fine. Actually, you know, there’s this thing that Joshua…”—Leo swallowed—“Joshua mentioned that Mo doesn’t do jealousy. Maybe you should put that theory to the test.”
Nate was kind enough not to remark on the way Leo’s voice had gone soft and wistful on Joshua’s name. Instead, he shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t want to play mind games really.”
“That’s noble of you.”
“I’m learning.” Nate bumped their hips together. “It’s a bit of an inspiration, isn’t it, the way those three are so open with each other? Like there’s nothing to be scared of, like it’s okay to let someone else see everything. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, it does.” Leo inhaled on a deep breath, felt the night swell around him. “Sorry I kept you away from him tonight. I’m sure he’d have liked you to watch the game with him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Nate said firmly. “Like I’d let you suffer through this alone. I’m not going to let some relationship come between me and my best mate, yeah?”
Leo loved him vigorously.
“You’re a sap,” he announced.
Nate snorted and tightened his hold. “Love you too, man.”
* * *
“Stop fretting,” Tristan ordered. “He said he’ll be here, and he won’t be here sooner if you wear out your watch.”
“Can you wear out your watch by checking it excessively?” Joshua asked.
Mo rewarded both of them with an unimpressed look and absently fluffed a cashmere pillow into shape. Their private loungein Heathrow’s Windsor Suite was flooded with light, empty apart from the three of them, Zach standing guard outside the door and waiting for their passports to return stamped.
“What if he didn’t get my directions?” Mo frowned.
“Fuck’s sake, Mo. This isNate.” Tristan helped himself to a biscuit and continued while chewing. “He’d probably mapped all emergency exits and alternate routes before you even sent him an access plan.”
That served to relax Mo, and Joshua let himself relax along with him. They had about fifty minutes until take-off, at least thirty before they’d be taken through private security and straight to the aircraft. Two weeks away from London, away from this country, away from everything. Thank God.
A gentle knock on the door had Mo whip his head around. The lounge’s manager entered a moment later, splendid in her red dress, a practised smile on her face. “Excuse me, Sirs. A Mr Nate Biggs and a Mr Leo Graham are here to see you?”
Joshua felt himself stiffen, his stomach dropping.
Leo. What was he doing here? Why was he here? And how had he even—did he have a fake ID that withstood scrutiny? He probably did; if James was on Leo’s side, these things weren’t done halfway.
Why was hehere?
He’d probably come with Nate. But then he could have waited outside, right?
“Show them in, please,” Tristan said before Joshua had a chance to process the idea of seeing Leo again. Before he had a chance to compose himself and school his features into something reasonably calm.
