They stepped over chalk arrows to the side of Josh’s place. Music and chatter grew louder, somewhat buffered by a large gate with popped balloons. Cold, thick shadows fell from the stone house. Knight halted.
Lake twisted and leaned against the gate, not at all glancing over Knight’s form, or feeling the block of heat of his broader body.
Lake swallowed, gaze straying to his immature boxed gift. “Knightly?”
“Emerett?”
“Remember when I agreed you should back off?”
“Vividly.”
He gave in to a ridiculous urge to laugh, and shoved a hand through his hair. “Maybe a little less?”
Dark eyes snapped to his, and a tingling shiver threaded through Lake, from his scalp, down his spine, to his calves—his crotch, too. Definitely there.
The gate yanked open, and Lake lost his balance, falling backward. A wiry arm caught him at the elbow and hip, nails digging for purchase.
Lake cried out, “So sorry—”
“There you are.”
He jolted upright.
Philip beamed at him, gaze bright. Possibly inebriated. He clapped. “Serendipitous. I was about to come get you myself.”
A scoffing chuckle came from behind him. Lake scowled. No, he hadn’t forgotten Knight’s thoughts on Philip.
Or how desperately he needed Knight to be wrong.
Lake straightened his shirt, smiling. Friendly but not so friendly that it gave Philip the wrong idea. “Harry’s sorry he can’t come tonight.”
Philip frowned in commiseration, but not long enough.
Knight was far too quiet, no doubt waiting for the moment to say “I told you so.”
Knight could not be right about this. He was misreading the signs, and he’d damn well gotten into Lake’s head.
Lake continued hurriedly, “He’s really sick.”
“Yeah, he texted me. Poor guy. He seemed excited for tonight.” Philip’s smile grew and he winked. “Guess we’ll have to have more fun on his behalf.”
Not quite the reaction Lake had expected. On the other hand, the two had been texting, so Philip already had time to process his disappointment.
Yes, that.
Lake quickened his step down the side of the house.
Josh’s party was held in his foster parents’ large backyard. At least fifty people were peppered in clusters.
Lounging against a lamppost next to the drinks station, laughing with his parents, was the man of the hour. Josh. Maori, sexy, and energetic. He hugged his mum and kissed her cheek.
A woman wearing a glittery top shrieked Philip’s name. Philip blinked, confused, then roared back in recognition.
Glittery Girl dragged Philip toward the path. Some guy she knew just had to see him again.
“Lake,” Philip called over his shoulder, “did you want to come?”
Knight’s breath tickled at the back of his ear, like he might be shaking his head while laughing.
“Go ahead,” Lake said, slapping on a smile. “Gotta say hello to Josh.”
“Okay, I won’t be long.”
“Take your time.” Please.
Josh spotted them and beamed. He hugged Knight, and Knight murmured something that made Josh laugh.
Josh turned to Lake and hauled him into a hug. “Kia ora, man! Kei te pehea koe?”
Lake dredged his memory for an appropriate te reo Maori response. “Kei te pai.” Great. Primary school level skills.
Josh just smiled. His curly blue hair now had shaven zigzags on one side. “I’m glad you came! I didn’t have your number.”
Oh.
Lake had gotten a new number six months ago when his phone got stolen.
Crap.
“I asked Taylor for it, but all I got back was pictures of him and Amy in Madrid.”
Lake would have a few words with Taylor later.
“And I should’ve asked Knight, but I got busy. Forgot . . .”
Understandable. Lake shrugged, casual like. “I mean, I figured it wouldn’t have been a nefarious reason.”
Knight chortled and coughed into his fist. “We’re sorry you couldn’t make it to the wedding.”
Lake agreed. “It was wonderful, from their heart-melting vows to the mouth-watering crostini.”
That last bit earned him a quiet shake of Knight’s head.
“Crostini? Tell me more.” Josh laughed and listened attentively. Like really attentively.
Was he checking Knight out?
Knight seemed to catch the glance too. He raised their gift. “Yes, for you.”
Oh crap, the gift.
Maybe Josh would be touched Lake had given him such a personal gift.
What was he thinking? Josh knew Lake enough to know what he meant by the gift.
“So, Oxford graduate,” Lake blurted, drawing Josh’s attention away from the box. Maybe he wouldn’t open it until later? Never? “What’s next?”
Josh laughed. “Everyone’s favorite question.”
He opened the box—Lake cringed—and pulled out a bottle of zinfandel.
Knight watched every emotion—regret, embarrassment, hope—pass over Lake’s face. How well Knight knew him. How very perceptive. And maddening.
But mostly, how very relieving.
In a wash of men’s cologne, Josh hugged and thanked them, then moved the wine to a gift shelf.
Lake sidled closer to Knight, until their elbows knocked. “I could mostly kinda kiss you right now.”
“I would mostly kinda not stop you.”
Lake laughed, nervously. Knight was only joking, but Lake kind of, maybe, really wanted to. Lake stared at those gently smiling lips, shivering at the stir of Knight’s hitching breath.