Page 21 of Stick By Me
“I did. I guess Leo told you all about them.” Archer glanced at me.
“I told Remy while we were at your game, and word spread.” I lifted my arm and made to wrap it around Archer’s waist. What the fuck was I doing? I dropped my arm. He didn’t need protecting from my brother. And…what the fuck?
“Oh.” With a nod, Archer said, “I guess we’re sort of like you guys. We all stick together.”
“You don’t uh…is there a guy named Ace in your squad?” With stuttered chuckle, Axel lifted a brow and rubbed his chin.
“Yeah.” Archer eyed him, then pointed. “You guys hooked up, right?”
Axel dropped his mouth open, then looked around and grabbed Archer’s arm, turning him. “Yeah, but don’t say that too loudly. My partner is here, and I don’t want him getting jealous.”
“Remy is not going to be jealous of a hookup you had before you two were together.” I rolled my eyes. Axel could be so dramatic.
“Guess we both have old hookups here.” With a soft snort, Archer snuck a peek at me.
“Guess so.” Axel freed Archer and stepped back. “So, I guess that leaves me with my final question.” He narrowed his eyes and focused on Archer. “My brother is straight as you can get. Well, if you don’t count the fact that he’d make someone a fine wife someday and dresses with more style than a lot of gay men I know.” He snickered. “What do you see in him?”
“Axel,” I said between my teeth. He had to go there.
“Well I…” Archer’s gaze met mine and the smallest of grins twitched his lips. “I like him. He’s a good man and a great friend. Isn’t that enough?”
Warmth flooded my heart, and I touched the small of hisback. Shit, he was making me feel things I’d only felt with women. Or had I? Shit, I was in trouble.
Axel’s eyes twinkled. “You’re absolutely right.” He looked behind us. “Oh, Remy is calling me with a fresh beer. See you both later.” With a wag of his brows, he sauntered off.
Facing Archer, I said, “Sorry about him. He’s a little?—”
“Don’t apologize.” He held up his hand. “He cares about you and obviously thinks very highly of you.”
“Yeah, guess so.” I glanced behind me at Axel, dropping into Remy’s lap at the band wives’ table. No mistaking he was gay and who he loved. Everywhere they went, Axel was sure to let people know and he never gave a fuck what they thought about it. No way I could be like that.
“Hey.” Archer placed his hand on my cheek and guided my gaze to his. “What are you thinking about?”
I stared at him for a beat. I couldn’t say it out loud, could I? “I, I don’t know.” With a huff, I hung my head and kicked at the tile floor. “Nothing.”
“Hey, Archer. Ryder told me you were here.” Milo, his pink sequined crop top catching the lights, strolled to us. “Nice to see you.” His green eyes took Archer in, then he puffed a lock of curly brown bang off his forehead.
“Nice to see you, too.” Archer gave Milo a bear hug, wrapping his bigger body around him.
As my gut pinched, I forced myself to look away. They’d had sex. Milo knewthingsabout Archer. He’d seen what he looked like when he came. Fuck, he knew what he sounded like. Planting my hands on my hips, I breathed in deeply. I must not go there.
Archer released Milo. “You guys sound great as usual.”
“Aw, thanks.” Milo looked him up and down. “You’re looking good after that loss tonight. I guess Leo is taking good care of you?”
Edging into my side, Archer gave a shy smile and said, “Yeah, he is.”
The heat from his body woke my dick. I moved my arm around him. What if I held him to my side? Would it be so weird for astraightguy? I dropped my arm. If Axel saw it, I’d be done for.
“Anyways, I need to go see Ryder.” Milo narrowed his eyes at me. “Take good care of him.” He patted my arm and walked off.
Did Milo sense something was up? No…I didn’t know Milo very well. He couldn’t. “So, let’s get you a new drink. I’m sure the one you had is watered down now and I think you pretty much drank it all before your dad called.” Plus, I couldn’t trust myself with him around the band wives.
“I think you’re right.” Archer snatched my hand and tugged me toward a bar tucked against the wall to the left of the venue, weaving between people, then sidled up beside Jonah, who was chatting with another young man.
“Hey.” Archer rested his elbow on the bar and wedged me up beside him and another man.
“Oh, hey. How are you doing?” Jonah twisted, then glanced at me. “Must be doing just fine, I guess.” He gave me a smug grin.
