“Yeah, except we’re not master criminals,” protested Eugene.
Seiji tapped his finger thoughtfully against his chin. “Leave it to me.”
“Seiji, I’m finding your current lack of expression even more unsettling than your usual lack of expression!” Eugene said. “Bro, I’m feeling a distinct sense of disquiet here!”
Seiji shrugged. He couldn’t be responsible for everyone’s emotions. It was difficult enough being responsible for Nicholas.
“I love this little guy,” Chad announced.
Seiji assumed he was talking about someone else, someone of below-average height, when Chad rose like a volcano from the sea and slammed a meaty arm around Seiji’s shoulders. Seiji gave a faint gasp, partly from horror and partly because he felt as if his bones were being crushed.
“Whoa, be gentle with him,” Eugene advised Chad. “It’s his first brodeo.”
16: AIDEN
The diner in Kingstone was set up to look like an old-fashioned soda fountain and ice cream shop, with crimson booths and a stained-glass sign behind the cash register reading SWEETS FOR SWEETHEARTS.
Of course Neil would pick a place like this, Aiden thought with scorn. Classic Neil.
“I picked the place,” said Harvard quietly. “I think it’s cute. Do you think Neil will like it?”
Now that Aiden looked at it again, the place was totally cute. Not that Neil would appreciate it, Aiden was sure.
He had to stop thinking this way. The diner was nice. They would have a nice time. Harvard would be happy.
“Of course Neil will like it.” Aiden’s voice rang with sincerity. Neil got to be on a date with Harvard here, after all. “Who wouldn’t like it?”
“Perfect place to have a milkshake,” chimed in Aiden’s date.
“Nobody asked you,” Aiden said with a charming smile. He’d learned that if he employed the smile, he could say absolutely anything he wanted and his dates would interpret it as flirting.
The date supported this thesis by winking at Aiden. Then he reached for Aiden’s hand. Aiden pulled away sharply. He was about to meet Neil, and he needed his hands free. He had to be ready for anything.
Neil was already sitting in a booth. God, Aiden hated the punctual.
“Hey, Neil,” called out Harvard, and gave Neil a little wave.
Aiden was tempted to step in front of Harvard so Neil wouldn’t get to see it, but that would be pointless. The wave would still be meant for Neil. Aiden couldn’t keep it for himself.
Harvard had said, I’m asking for this. Not for Aiden to be with him, but for Aiden to help him be with Neil. This was what Harvard wanted. Instead of blocking the wave, Aiden followed up Harvard’s wave with his most charming smile, aimed in the same direction.
“Hey,” said Aiden. “Neil, is it?”
Neil smiled back. God, Aiden hated teeth.
“Uh, wow,” he said. “You must be Aiden.”
There was a lilt to the wow, which made Aiden think Neil was surprised that Aiden was hot. Why would Neil be surprised that Aiden was hot? It was an internationally recognized fact.
Had Harvard described Aiden as hideous? Surely Harvard wouldn’t do that.
Was Neil surprised to find himself attracted to Aiden? Better men than Neil found themselves in this situation all the time.
Aiden tried to regard Neil dispassionately. He supposed Neil was okay-looking. Tall, hair that was untidy in a way some might find vaguely charming. Vacant eyes, Aiden decided, giving up on dispassion and turning to viciousness. Aiden might while away a Tuesday night with a guy like Neil, but he’d save Fridays and Saturdays for someone more compelling. Why was Harvard wasting his time with a Tuesday-night guy?
Aiden slid into the booth opposite Neil. Harvard and Aiden always sat on the same side of the table, but today it would be different. Harvard wanted it to be different.
Harvard also wanted his best friend and his boyfriend to get along. Aiden smiled with the concentrated intensity of a star, leaving Neil no choice but to be dazzled or go blind.
“Sorry we’re late,” said Aiden. “My fault. Always is.”
Neil sounded slightly dazed, as well he might. “That’s okay.”
Aiden’s face was beginning to hurt, but he had to keep the smile pinned in place. Harvard would now be sitting next to Neil. Aiden would be forced to watch it.
Then Harvard slid in next to Aiden.
Aiden was just turning to Harvard and beginning to smile for real, when Neil said, “Uh, Harvard?”
“Oh God, sorry!” exclaimed Harvard. “Force of habit.”
He slid out of Aiden’s side of the booth, abandoning Aiden with a stranger. The random date sat down, and Neil made an interrogative sound. “This is…?”
“This is, ah, my date,” said Aiden.
“Whose name is…,” prompted Neil.
“Blair,” Aiden answered.
Harvard coughed. Aiden glanced over at his date and Harvard, who were both shaking their heads.
“Huh,” said Aiden. “Brandon? Still no? Tip of my tongue.”
“This is your date whose name you don’t know?” asked Neil, blinking.
Aiden had been right to dislike Neil on sight. Neil was a judgmental and unkind person, but for Harvard’s sake, Aiden offered a sheepish shrug.
Harvard said quietly, “His name is Bruce.”
Aiden tried to be a carefree rogue, winking at Neil and then his random date. Usually, carefree roguery came to Aiden more easily. “Clark and I are more about the raw animal passion than the in-depth conversation.”
Random date seemed pleased to hear this. He moved in slightly closer to Aiden. Aiden felt crowded.
“In-depth conversation… about names,” said Neil. “Also, his name is Bruce.”
“And your name is Neil,” said Aiden in a conciliatory fashion. “We’re all introduced. Fabulous to meet you, Neil.”
That was a shocking lie but told in a good cause. Neil leaned his shoulder into Harvard’s, smiling back at Aiden. Of course Neil was pleased with how his life was going.
“Likewise,” Neil told Aiden. “I’ve heard a lot about you. You and Harvard grew up in each other’s pockets, Harvard says.”
Harvard smiled.
“You’re like brothers, I guess,” Neil proceeded.
Harvard stopped smiling. Aiden bit his tongue. The taste of blood made him feel nauseous.
“Not really,” said Aiden’s random date. “My brother and I used to try to make each other eat dirt. Mom had to put us in time-out on opposite sides of the house. Aiden and Harvard are, like, inseparable. Everyone at Kings Row thought they were dating for, wow, the first five months of school.”
Harvard seemed surprised by this information. Neil seemed deeply displeased to hear it.
“When we want your input, we’ll ask for it, Peter!” snapped Aiden.
His random date stopped trying to slide his arm along the back of the booth behind Aiden’s shoulders, whistled under his breath, and took out his phone.
The server came to take their order. Harvard frowned at the menu.
Aiden relaxed, feeling on familiar ground. “Why do you always do this? You know you always look through every item on the menu and then pick the sweetest thing. French toast for him. Oh, and then let’s split the brownie sundae.”