“Ella Bella.” Andrew reached for her again and she let him tuck her into his side.
“It’s just a couple of them, but they’re loud, you know. Dad’s not having a bar of it, though, so they’ll shut up. Eventually.”
Elle’s dad hadn’t liked Andrew much, though that was mostly because of him being her “first” rather than the colour of his skin. Mr. Tally much preferred James, mostly because they could talk fishing for hours.
“Your dad will set them straight,” he agreed. Over the top of her head, Andrew saw Brian. He was standing beside Carly, watching them with a blank expression. “So, while we’re having potentially awkward conversations, can I ask you something?”
“Anything.” Elle stepped away from him again, this time so she could look up at him enquiringly.
“Stop telling people Brian’s gay.”
Elle blinked. “What?”
She seemed genuinely surprised but a spark of anger flared in Andrew all the same. “James told me that you’d said Brian was gay. You know better than that. It’s not your place to speculate about it with anyone else.”
“I’m well aware of that. I never said he was, to anyone.”
“Well, James was pretty convinced you’d told him. Swore up and down that you had.”
“I didn’t . . .” She trailed off with a frown. “I mean, we talked about him never having a serious relationship with a woman. And that his longest ever relationship was with you.”
Andrew jerked in surprise. “We’re not in a relationship.”
“Oh, get your knickers out of a knot,” she scolded. “A relationship doesn’t automatically mean a romantic one. A friendship is a relationship. And let’s face it, Brian’s never had a romantic one.”
Hoping like hell he hadn’t overheard anything, Andrew checked up on Brian’s whereabouts. He and Carly had moved further away to a kiosk and were trying on hats that looked like fish.
“Of course he has. There was Lena in uni and Simone before that.”
Elle smiled gently at him and squeezed his arm. “Friends with benefits. He wasn’t in love with them. Simone might have been in love with him, but Lena certainly wasn’t.” At his frown, she added, “It was obvious to anyone who looked close enough.”
It was a possibility. Andrew had never seen any overtly romantic behaviour between Brian and Simone, or Lena, and even though Brian had been sad when he split with them, he hadn’t seemed too affected. The realisation cut into him hard. If Brian hadn’t been in love with either Simone or Lena, then the chances for Andrew were absolutely miniscule.
“I didn’t say he was gay,” Elle reiterated, “but that’s probably how James took it. Like how you got all offended when I said he had a relationship with you.”
“Yeah.” Andrew pressed down on a surge of hopelessness. It didn’t matter that he’d ruined things already. He’d never had a real chance with Brian anyway. “Yeah, I guess. Sorry for accusing you.”
“It’s okay. We sorted it.” Her smile was bright and forgiving. “We always do.”
“I guess.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I really am happy for you and James, Ella Bella. I’ll be proud to stand up with both of you.”
“That’s my fiancé you’re kissing, dude!”
Andrew laughed as James barrelled into him and carried him away from Elle. He twisted until he got the other man into a headlock. James shimmied out of it and they mock boxed.
“Boys!” Elle threw her hands up and went over to Carly and Brian.
“What did you think of the show?” James slung an arm around Andrew’s neck. “I think it’s more dynamic than the last one, right? I mean, we got close enough on that last jump to high five.”
Why the hell was Elle always right about these things?
“Um, sorry, mate, but I missed the show.”
Some of the light faded from James’s beaming smile. “Why?” Then he frowned and peeled away from him. “You’re wet.”
James himself was dry and in his regular clothes, though his hair was a bit damp. For someone who’d just been in a high-octane jet-ski show, he was drier than Andrew.
“’Tis a long story, my friend, full of nefarious deeds and a devious doctor.”
“I resemble that comment,” Brian called.
James laughed and patted Andrew’s shoulder. “All is forgiven. Staying for the next show?”
“Of course. There will be chaffing very soon, but I’ll struggle through manfully for you. Where’s Troy?”
“Trying to convince some of the ladies to join us for lunch.”
Andrew groaned. “Don’t do it. I’m not interested.” He really wasn’t. Bi or not, he was completely hung up on his best friend, even if he was just coming to understand how hopeless it was.
“Meh. They’re good people. Widen your friend circle, it’ll do you good.”
Rolling his eyes, Andrew let James drag him along as they went in search of food. Troy caught up to them at the café, a couple of young women with him, and James was right, they were fun and lively. Thankfully no one tried to push him closer to either of them and neither of them seemed overtly interested in him. They just chatted and laughed as a group, even if Brian wouldn’t talk directly to Andrew and barely looked at him. It got worse when Troy saw the hickey and pointed it out loudly. He led the inquisition until he suddenly yelped and jumped in his chair.
“Who kicked me?” He peered around suspiciously.
“Wasn’t me,” Carly said.
James shook his head and everyone eyed the only other person it could have been.
“He was being a dick,” Brian muttered and shoved another tomato sauce covered chip into his mouth.
“That hurt.” Troy pouted. “I have another show to do.”
“You’re fine.” Brian’s tone was cold. “And maybe you’ll think twice before prying into other people’s private business.”
“It was just a joke,” Troy muttered when no one else defended him.
Andrew tried to catch Brian’s eye for a thank you head bob, but Brian focused intently on his food. Carly leaned over and whispered to him and Brian just shrugged.
Conversation picked up again and after another half hour, the ski team members had to go. Elle and Carly decided to call it a day and go do secret wedding stuff.
Leaving Andrew and Brian sitting at opposite ends of the table.
“You can go if you want,” Andrew said to him. “I’m going to stick around for the next show.”
“I’m driving you home. I’ll stay.”
“Can we talk?”
“At home.”
Disappointment warred with a spark of hope. Brian was at least coming home with him. Andrew would just have to convince him to stay once he was there.
They stuck around at the lake arena rather than wander around again. Brian wouldn’t get too close and he only talked in single syllables or grunts. They ended up spending more time looking at their phones than each other.
At almost the same moment, the phones signalled incoming messages. Andrew glanced at Brian, then at his screen.