Page 26 of Forgotten Prejudice

“Kai—that’s my best friend’s name… We’ve known each other for years, and he’s practically my whole world.” I took a deep breath, then let it out. “At least, he was until he found out I was gay and that I…”

“Loved him?” Soren offered.

Shocked, I looked at him. “H-How did you know?”

He chuckled. “Falling for the straight best friend? It’s a tale as old as time.”

Now embarrassed, because apparently I was a pathetic stereotype of a gay man, I tried to move off his lap, but he didn’t allow it.

“I’m sorry, it came off wrong.” His hand held on to my hips harder. “What I meant to say was that your love for him is completely normal. Nothing to be ashamed of.”

Something occurred to me then, and I placed my hands on his wide shoulders, my eyes studying his flawless face. “Did it happen to you, too?”

He shook his head. “No.”

I huffed. “Of course it didn’t. You’re gorgeous. Who wouldn’t fall for you?”

Flashing me a grin, one that showed his perfect white teeth, he pulled me closer and then moved his hand to the small of my back. I tensed at the touch and tried to resist leaning even deeper into him.

“I can say the same thing about you, Ashton. But love doesn’t work that way. We can’t choose who we fall for.” While speaking, his fingers slowly ran down my back.

My dick took notice, hardening in the slacks Soren had lent me. Desperate to distract myself from my growing reaction, I went on. “Anyway, he doesn’t feel the same. Hence the punch to the face.” I laughed awkwardly, trying to lighten the thick mood. Sitting in Soren’s lap, with his cologne surrounding me while having his hands softly touching my skin, made me all fuzzy, and my horny ass wished we were naked.

Those were dangerous thoughts because I didn’t want him to assume that all I cared about was sex or that I was being too vulgar. Maybe those were my first intentions, but by now, I’d managed to forget all about them and began wishing for more. But I didn’t want to make a complete fool out of myself. The kiss we shared in the stables was already embarrassing enough with how eager and needy I’d been.

“Your friend is an idiot,” Soren said, cutting into my intrusive thoughts.

“H-He isn’t an idiot,” I muttered, sounding defensive.

“I beg to differ.”

I pulled back a bit while sliding my hands from his shoulders to his chest. “You don’t understand. Kai’s parents are extremely homophobic.”

“So they’re idiots, too.”

The doorbell rang before I could reply, and we both turned to look at the door before I rolled off Soren so he could get it.

After tipping the delivery guy, he closed the door, went to the kitchen island, and began pulling out our food. For a couple of minutes, I remained seated as I watched him set the table for us with precision and care, so much that he went through the trouble of placing two candles and lighting them to set up the mood.

“How can you say he’s an idiot when you don’t even know him?” I asked after joining Soren in the kitchen.

“Any person who’s too close-minded to realize sexuality is anything else other than a given fact is a blunt idiot.” He poured himself a glass of red wine before moving the chair for me to sit. “Come here,” he said, waiting until I sat down, then did the same.

Still wanting him to change his perception about Kai, I continued to push. “It’s not just that. He’s struggling with a lot of things right now.” As I tried defending Kai, Soren began loading my plate with food—grilled fish, green veggies, and roasted potatoes that smelled delicious.

“Come on, eat up before it gets cold.” He placed a napkin over my lap.

Eager to get his answer, I took a bite and then asked, “Did you listen to me?”

Swirling the wine in his glass, he took a sip, then hummed with pleasure before nodding. “I did. You said he’s struggling with a lot of stuff. But that still doesn’t contradict him being an idiot.”

I groaned because who knew he was so resilient?

“He got his girlfriend pregnant, and he’s scared, okay? It’s not all about me.”

Soren huffed. “That only proves my point.”

Placing down my fork, I frowned at him, and apparently, he found it amusing because he was smirking.