“Yes.”
Asher got to his feet. “I’m not in the business of making you feel better.” He walked out from under the cabana, stopping at the edge of the pool.
Kenny took another shot before following him, just hoping it stopped the disgust swirling inside him. Not disgust for Asher or anyone else. Disgust for the man he was becoming.
“Get mad,” Kenny yelled. “Why aren’t you more mad?” He stopped a few paces away, the whiskey emboldening him.
“No. I wish you had the balls to stand up to your parents, but they have controlled every aspect of your life. I know them, remember? And I used to know you. In a weird way, I understand why you do the things you do.”
“I don’t want you to understand. I don’t deserve it.”
“No. You don’t.”
“Then punch me. Please.”
“No.”
Anger rose in Kenny, and he didn’t know what he was doing until he’d closed the space between them and lunged for Asher, shoving him toward the dark water.
Kenny hit the heated water seconds after Asher. His slacks dragged him down. He kicked his legs as hard as he could to breach the surface and found Asher near the far wall, sputtering and choking out water.
“You’re an ass.” Asher shook sopping hair out of his eyes.
The water doused the flames of Kenny’s anger. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you.”
“You think?”
“I just don’t understand how you can even look at me or be around me. I’m kind of awful.”
Asher sighed. “You’re not awful. We both live in this world of politics where you have to take a side on everything. There’s very little room for the shades of gray between positions.”
Kenny wiped water from his eyes and kicked across the pool toward Asher. “You sound like such a politician.”
“In a way, I am. As the president’s son, I can’t ever say the wrong thing.”
“I know how that is.” Kenny reached for the pool edge and hung on, facing Asher. “Don’t you ever just wish you could say what you really think?”
“Sometimes, but I don’t know what I really think.”
“Me either.” Kenny studied his old friend in the dark. The years had changed him, that was for sure. Gone was the gangly kid with skinny legs and buzzed hair. He’d let his natural, curly hair grow out into what some people would call an Afro, but that didn’t seem like the right term. He was still kind of skinny, lacking the muscles Kenny developed through his hockey training, but it suited him.
Intelligent eyes met Kenny’s. He’d met few people in his life who were as smart as Asher. Not book smart. More like life smart.
“I’m not brave like you, Ash.” He dropped his voice. What would Asher do if Kenny admitted to him that he’d dated Nicky for two years in secret before their infamous kiss got out? Instead of voicing the truths he feared, Kenny went another direction. “My parents… I don’t know how to stand up to them.”
“One moment at a time. One word, one action. Then you move onto the next. If you don’t want to be this guy, then don’t. Break their control or you’ll always be ashamed of yourself.”
“I never said I was ashamed.”
“Aren’t you? You can’t tell me while you stood there frozen that you didn’t want to tell your mother just what you thought of her.”
“Do you think Nicky is okay?”
Asher nodded. “He has Becks. Those two are—”
“Disgustingly cute.”
“Yeah.” Asher grinned, and the act lit up his entire face. “They really are. They’re so sweet together it makes me want to puke.”
“Yet you invited them to your party. I was surprised. I didn’t even know you kept in touch with them.”
“How well do you know them?” The question touched on dangerous territory.
“The three of us grew up in the same town.”
Asher nodded as if that was the only explanation he needed. “I guess I knew that. You and Nicky are friends or used to be? You don’t have to tell me.” He peeled his suit coat down his arms and flung the soaked jacket onto the concrete apron. “You could have at least let me take that off before throwing me into the pool. You’re lucky it’s heated, because if I froze to death, I’d haunt your ass.”
“You weren’t going to freeze. Do you know how many stories there are of first ladies swimming every day, even in winter?”
Asher lowered his gaze to Kenny’s, ignoring his useless fact. “I wasn’t kidding, you know.”
“About what?”
“You need to break your parents’ control. Be your own man, Ken.”
Kenny hadn’t realized how close they’d gotten until the steam from their breath mingled between them. Asher didn’t even seem to notice as he kept on talking.
“You aren’t this guy. The one who fights to take people’s freedoms away or lets hatred guide what he does.”
Asher didn’t know Kenny anymore. He didn’t see the man he’d become. In the two years of dating Nicky, Kenny treated him like something to be embarrassed about. He’d broken his heart in the end and then tried to get him back once it was clear he’d moved on.
Who does that?
“I used to think I knew you.” Steam rose around them, curling in the cold air.
Kenny dipped his head back, needing to let the water warm his freezing hair. When he tilted his face back down to look at Asher, his old friend watched him closely.
“You did know me.” Kenny edged closer.
“Why did you abandon me when I came out?” The vulnerability in his voice caused Kenny’s heart to squeeze. He hadn’t realized just how hurt Asher was by his actions. “After the news broke, I tried getting in touch with you. My parents used to tell me you just had to get used to the new version of me. But I wasn’t a new version, Ken. I was the same kid I’d always been.”
“I was scared.” Kenny swallowed heavily.
“Of what? That you’d be gay by association? That I had some kind of disease that would rub off on you?” Tears sprang to his eyes.
When Kenny didn’t respond, Asher backed up. “What were you scared of, Kenny?”
Maybe it was the alcohol making him brave. Or maybe he was just so damn tired of not having what he wanted. He inched forward along the wall.
“What are you doing?” Asher asked, his voice shaking.
“Breaking my parents' control.” Kenny reached out, wrapping his hand around the back of Asher’s head.
Kenny had kissed boys many times before. He used to love kissing Nicky for hours. Acting on his desires wasn’t anything new to him. But this wasn’t just any boy. It was Asher, and he deserved so much better than the guy who’d crushed him.
Yet, in that moment, Kenny didn’t care. He fit his cold lips over Asher’s, waiting for him to respond.
But that moment never came. Asher’s body went rigid in Kenny’s arms, and his lips clamped shut.
“Kenny.” Asher said his name on a breath, pushing him away just far enough so a sliver of space stood between them. His eyes flicked between Kenny’s. “That’s not what I meant when I said you had to break your parents’ control.”
Kenny pushed away from him, swimming toward the opposite ledge. He was an idiot. For once, he’d let himself act on something he wanted. Asher was right there in front of him, looking way too good with his wet hair hanging around his face and silver light reflecting in his amber eyes.
And Asher thought it was an act, a ploy to piss off his father.
“Kenny,” Asher called after him. “Why would you do that if not for your father?”
“You know what, Ash? I don’t know.” He hauled himself out of the pool. “Must have just been a stupid impulse. Forget about it, okay?”
Asher was quiet for a moment. “Ken…”
“I said forget about it.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
Danny appeared at the edge of the trees looking frazzled. “Asher, your friends are harassing me to let t
hem back here.”
“Who is it?” Asher, refusing to look at Kenny, focused on his secret service agent instead.
“Beckett and Nicky.”
An indulgent smile spread across Asher’s face and Kenny wished he was the one who’d put it there. “Let them in.”
“Thank God.” Danny rubbed his chin. “If I have to listen to Beckett chatter on about nonsense for one more moment…” He grumbled to himself and turned to walk back where he’d left them.
Kenny walked into the pool house to retrieve a towel. After wringing out the bottom of his shirt, he wrapped it around himself, trying to still his shivering as a gust of chilly air struck him.
Becks sauntered toward the pool like he owned the place. “We swimming? Hell yeah.” He threw his suit coat on the ground, before taking a running start, and leaped into the air, ending in an epic belly flop.
“Ouch.” Nicky laughed as he watched his boyfriend surface and shake off the pain. He turned to Kenny, scanning his wet clothes.
All Kenny wanted to do was leave the White House and forget about the night entirely. But Nicky’s gaze held him in place. There was a time where he’d have done anything to pull Nicky into a closet or a back room and kiss the smirk from his lips.
But now, he shrank under the scrutiny.
Nicky rubbed his eyes as if not believing the next words out of his own mouth. “You must be freezing. Take off your shirt, and I’ll give you my jacket.”
“You’ll give me your jacket?”
“Just do it, Kenny.”
He unbuttoned his dress shirt and slid it from his shoulders before taking Nicky’s offered coat. It fit him tight across the shoulders but started providing his body with some of the heat it had lost.
“For what it’s worth,” Kenny began, looking to the stars overhead. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not worth very much.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he lowered his gaze to his probably-ruined shoes. “I know.”
“But I’ll take it.”
“What?” Their gazes connected, and Kenny saw the kid he’d known, the one he hadn’t let himself love.
“We both know what happened with that kiss. I didn’t attack you. You kissed me. We also both know that you were a confused asshole the entire time we dated. But…you didn’t ask for the media attention that surrounded me at the time. If I hadn’t been the paparazzi’s favorite punching bag because of my relationship with Becks, you’d never have been dragged into the mess. No one should be outed against their will. I don’t hold it against you that you can’t tell your parents yet.”
He shrugged. “It’s your story to tell, Ken. No one else’s. But you’ve got to stop being an ass.”
“I know.”
“Does Asher know? The truth, I mean.”
Kenny sighed but said nothing.
“I’ll take that as a no. Just…if you’re going to be friends with him, be careful.”
“I’m not friends with him.” Not anymore, at least. One night didn’t change years of separation.
“Okay. That’s your choice too. But when Becks was struggling, Ash was there for him. He’s probably the best kind of friend to have. I know what you’re going to say, though. You don’t need anyone. Kenny Montgomery never has.”
Kenny shrugged. “I can’t change who I am.”
“No.” He gave him a pointed look. “You can’t. But you can change how you feel about who you are.” Putting a hand on Kenny’s shoulder, Nicky turned his attention to the pool where Becks and Asher had started wrestling, dragging each other under the water. “Excuse me. I have to go make sure my boyfriend doesn’t kill the president’s son.” He shot him a smile before canon-balling into the water.
Kenny gave them all one final look before walking past Danny and crossing the south lawn. He nodded to secret service agents once he reached the back entrance into the West Wing. A middle-aged woman stopped him and insisted on escorting him back to the party. He agreed, knowing he wasn’t supposed to wander the White House on his own.
As soon as he stepped into the ballroom, his father rushed toward him, red creeping up his neck. “Where have you been, Kenneth?”
What could he say? Drinking with the president’s son? Trying to kiss a boy who didn’t want to kiss him back?
“You’re soaking wet.” His mother joined them and guided him from the room, away from the curious glances burning into them.
“I fell in the pool.” Kenny shrugged.
His father leaned in. “Have you been drinking? Your breath reeks of whiskey.”
Once again, he only shrugged.
His mother wrapped a tight grip around his arm. “Where is your shirt, Kenneth? We’re leaving. You’re an embarrassment.”
His dad, never one to take Kenny’s side over his mom’s, nodded. “My colleagues asked about you, but you’d disappeared. And you show back up dripping wet and smelling of booze.”
“And don’t think Asher Brooks’ absence has been missed. Were you with the gay kid?” His mom’s perpetual scowl deepened.
They reached the front walk where a car waited to take them to their DC townhome.
His mother continued to blather on about Asher not being their type of people, and Kenny couldn’t take it anymore.
“Stop it!” he yelled.
The driver opened the back door of the car, but Kenny refused to slide in, not until he’d said everything he needed to say.
“Kenneth.” His father’s grip tightened. “Watch your tone.”
“Why do you hate them so much?”
“I don’t hate anyone.”
“Bullshit. Do they frighten you?”
“Don’t be stupid, son.”
“Well, guess what—” Kenny never got to finish his statement because bile rose in his throat, and he hunched forward, spilling the contents of his stomach onto his father’s thousand-dollar shoes.
8
Asher
“Dump water on him.”
“Nope, he will come up swinging. Dad has the scars to prove it.”
“It’s like trying to wake the dead. Are you guys sure he’s all right?”
“How much did he drink last night?”
“I’m going to pull his hair.”
“Touch the hair and die, Beckett,” Asher mumbled from under his covers. His head throbbed, and his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth.
“Wake up, birthday boy.” Beckett and Nicky bounced on his bed.
Asher sat up, shoving the covers off his head as his stomach heaved. “I’m going to be sick.”
“Drink this, little brother, it’s a magic hangover cure.” His sister shoved a cold bottle of water in his hands.
“Water?” He rolled his eyes at her. “Really?”
“Really. The alcohol dehydrates you, so you rehydrate, and you feel better.”
Asher brought the bottle to his lips and as the water passed his parched lips, he wasn’t sure he’d ever tasted anything as wonderful as ice-cold water. It helped, but he still felt like puking. “What the hell happened last night? And why are you all so cheery?”
“I only had a few drinks,” Caroline said, “but I don’t think I was cool enough to get invited to your pool party. Besides, I think my stylists would murder me if I jumped in the pool wearing couture.”
“I don’t drink.” Nicky smiled.
“I had a few beers.” Becks shrugged. “You gotta be careful with champagne, kid. It’s all fuzzy and sweet, but it’ll get you hammered. Especially that expensive stuff.”
“Ugh, I don’t normally drink more than a few sips.” Asher didn’t really like the effects of alcohol. He didn’t like losing his inhibitions when the least little thing he did could cause repercussions for his parents. But last night, he was looking for an escape, and he’d found it, but he wasn’t proud of it.
“Knock, knock,” Danny’s voice drifted in from the hall.
“What is happening right now?” Asher frowned at the series of dining carts
the kitchen staff wheeled into his room.
“Your birthday breakfast is served.” Nicky sat pretzel style on the edge of the bed.
“Food?” Asher’s stomach heaved again. “I can’t handle whatever’s on that cart.” The thought of eggs and bacon and all the heavy breakfast foods the kitchen likely sent up was more than he could stomach. He covered his mouth and reached for his bottle of water when Becks made a show of unveiling his breakfast feast.
He laughed before he could get the bottle to his lips. “Cereal?” He grinned when he saw every assortment of sugary and healthy cereals displayed on the carts. “I am way more excited about this cereal buffet than I should be.” He crept out of his bed, aware of his rumpled T-shirt and too-big basketball shorts. His hair probably looked awful too, but he didn’t care.
“It’s pretty sad they don’t let you eat cereal, man,” Becks said around a mouthful of Lucky Charms. “That’s like a staple in our house.”
“We’d probably starve without it,” Nicky added.
“Oh, you guys are living together now?” Asher asked as he made the first of many bowls of cereal he planned to eat this morning. This was so much better than a fancy party with people he didn’t know.
“No, when Becks says ‘our house’ he means the apartment I share with my brother and Nari. Becks lives across the hall when he’s home from the tour, but there’s never any food there. He would die if we didn’t feed him.”
“It’s only funny because it’s true.” Becks nodded gravely. “Pass me the Froot Loops.”
“Don’t you want fresh milk, man?” Asher frowned at him. “You cannot mix your Lucky Charms milk with your Froot Loops milk. That’s just Cereal 101.”
“I like to live dangerously.”
“You guys are too adorable for words, aren’t you?” Caroline said.
“Yes, ma’am.” Becks tipped his imaginary cowboy hat at her.
“I’m going to leave you boys to your cereal and cartoons.” Caroline stood to leave. “And, Ash”—she paused at the door—“you’ve got about an hour before Mom and Dad descend on you with their birthday presents.”
“Thanks, sis.” Asher poured himself a bowl of Count Chocula, his favorite. He didn’t think they even made it anymore.
Dating Him: The Series Page 29
