Page 57 of Wear It Like a Crown

“I was winning.”

“That’s what you tell yourself,” Leo said comfortably. Offering a hand to Nate, it took a moment before Nate accepted it with a shake of his head.

“You’re unbelievable, you know that?”

Leo gave him his widest, toothiest grin. “Thank you, darling. Such flattery, how very kind.” Turning to look at Joshua, Leo felt his expression settle into something much too soft. “Listen, Princeling. I need youto stay away from the internet, as well as from the telly. Don’t go out. Basically, grab yourself a good book and sit tight for a couple of days, at least until the World Cup starts or Bieber lands himself in some kind of mess. Got it?”

“You’re leaving?” Apprehension was plain to read in Joshua’s eyes, and fuck, Leo wished hecouldstay. Nothing was fair.

“It’s back to the office for us. Time difference means the US are just waking up, so this is the beginning of our night shift.”

“I’m sorry.” Joshua dropped his gaze.

“Joshua, it’s ourjob.” As soon as it was out, Leo wanted to punch himself in the face. Joshua meant so much more than a job. He meantso much.

He meant everything.

Before Leo could add anything else, Nate had stepped on his toes—since they were both barefoot, it didn’t hurt, but it drove the message home. “It’s also anhonour,” Nate said pointedly. “At least in this particular case.”

Quickly, Leo nodded. “It really is.”

While Joshua didn’t reply, he lifted his gaze, glancing from Leo to Nate and back, then forced a tentative smile. “Thank you for everything, you know?”

Nate didn’t hesitate to pull Joshua into a hug, and Leo spared a momentary thought for how two weeks ago, Nate wouldn’t have been nearly so quick to do this—not only because Joshua had been Prince Joshua, but also because Nate had been more restrained with physical affection, more restrained in general. The same was true for Leo. Spending time with Joshua, Mo and Tristan really had done a number on them, catching like an infection. In the best way.

Squeezing into the middle of Joshua and Nate, Leo inhaled deeply. The faint trace of Joshua’s cologne made him want to cry.

Fuck, Joshua had done it. He’ddoneit.

“You did it,” Leo whispered just as he felt Mo joining the group hug, grumbling about not wanting to be left out. Nate angled closer to Mo, a seemingly unconscious move that took him slightly away from Joshua and Leo, and suddenly, Leo was all too aware of the press of Joshua’s body, the sharp jut of onehipbone against his stomach. When Joshua’s lips brushed over Leo’s cheekbone, Leo held very still.

“Thank you,” Joshua repeated, so quiet it was meant for Leo’s ears only.

Leo took a measured breath and stepped back. His smile felt like a foreign entity. “You’re welcome, little prince. Really.” Another breath. “As Nate said, it is an honour.”

With that, he nudged Nate, who startled, then made to ease himself out of Mo’s embrace. Mo held on for several moments longer, a tiny grin quirking the corners of his mouth. They were ridiculous. If Leo weren’t wrought out of barbs and wires, he’d consider it sweet.

A quick glance proved that Joshua was still watching him, confused and maybe a little hopeful. Fuck, Leo needed to get away before he did something he’d regret.

After another round of goodbyes, he and Nate were tripping down the stairs, whereas Mo had announced he’d stay the night to keep Joshua from the news. It made sense, and Leo was glad Joshua wouldn’t be alone. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it being Mo, but… he held no claim. He couldn’t.

“So what’s up with you and Joshua?” Nate asked once they’d made it out of the building, the night like velvet. The road lay deserted, and they descended another flight of stairs to follow the footpath beside Regent’s Canal. Distant lights reflected off the water.

Leo took his time coming up with a reply. He didn’t have one, really, because whatever was going on—it couldn’t happen. Joshua wanted steady and long-term, someone who’d be by his side in public, and that person couldn’t be Leo. If the media caught so much as a whiff, they wouldn’t rest until they’d dragged the sordid mess of Leo’s past into the open, and Leo didn’t—he couldn’t—fuck.

What if Joshua looked at him differently after he found out? All of Joshua’s warmth twisting into disgust? Or—God. What if Joshua stuck with Leo, and the public would judge him for it? What if they cast Joshua as a sleazy, sex-driven creep?

“Nothing,” Leo said slowly. He felt cold and small. “Absolutely nothing is up with Joshua and me.”

Their steps echoed hollowly on the path, the boats they passedswaying gently, a few portholes painting bright circles into the night. “Hey.” Nate’s tone was offhand, contrasting with a quick, probing glance he directed at Leo. “Are you bothered by Joshua and Mo spending the night together? Just the two of them?”

Against his will, Leo’s shoulders tightened. “Are you?”

“I asked first,” Nate said. They walked several paces in silence, past a houseboat where three blokes were camped out on deck, sipping their beers with barely a word being spoken in the time it took Leo and Nate to leave them behind. When Leo turned to look at Nate, his head was ducked, gaze on the ground. “I don’t think,” Nate started quietly, carefully, “they’re like that anymore. Mo mentioned he hasn’t got laid since Spain.”

What the fuck?

“Okay, now I am worried.” Leo’s voice was too loud, travelling in the tranquillity of the night.