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Dropping his head back on the loveseat, Luke whistled low. “That’s a lot of money. Are you going to pay it?”

Asher sighed. If he knew the answer to that, he wouldn’t be sitting by himself hosting the worlds saddest pity party. Cameron had asked if he should expect guests for it. Apparently, he’d taken it upon himself to send out the invites.

“I’m guessing Cameron called you,” he said in lieu of an answer.

“He did.” Luke grinned from ear to ear. “I like him. I think you should keep him.”

Yeah, Asher liked him, too. Maybe more than liked him, which was the whole damn problem. “I told him to leave.”

“Aww, that’s cute that you thought he would listen.” Grabbing the blanket, Luke spread it over them both and curled into Asher’s side. “That hunky friend of his, Nico, is here, too.” Leaning his head against Asher’s shoulder, he sighed dramatically. “The things I would let that man do to me.” Then he batted his lashes. “Would you like me to tell you? I promise, it’s quite indecent.”

A chuckle slipped out before Asher could stop it. Tilting his head to the side, he rested his cheek against the top of Luke’s head and closed his eyes. “You shouldn’t be here, but I’m glad you are.”

“Shut up. We’re in this together.” Luke wiggled around and elbowed him in the ribs. “I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me about the café. That was three weeks ago, Ash!”

Asher hadn’t intended to tell anyone. So much time had passed between their first meeting and Kyle showing up at his house, he had started to think he’d imagined the incident. Three weeks. What the hell had Kyle been up to for three whole weeks?

“I’m sorry.” Despite Luke’s protests, the only reason he’d become involved in the first place was because he’d tried to help Asher when no one else would. Dragging him deeper into the mess seemed like a lousy way to repay him. “You really should stay out of this.”

“Okay, let’s think about this,” Luke said as if Asher hadn’t spoken. “Realistically, what can he do if you don’t pay him the money?”

As crazy as it sounded, he had a feeling Kyle was back for no other reason than to make him pay for getting out and having a life, and not necessarily with money. “I think the better question is whatcan’the do to me?”

“Calm down, Patty Panic. Think. Work it out. What. Can. He. Do?”

“I could lose my contract with my publisher.”

“So, then you self-publish.” Luke shrugged. “Next.”

“He could destroy my reputation.”

“You’re an eccentric recluse and kind of a slut on the down low. Well,” he added with an undignified snort, “not so down low after that blog. So, really, what reputation?”

Asher chuckled. “Touché.” He’d covered his career, his reputation, his money. He didn’t have any family, none that he spoke to anyway. “He could hurt you.”

Again, Luke snorted. “He could try. I’m not afraid of him, Ash.”

Dropping his head back on the loveseat, Asher stared up at the darkening sky. “Cameron.”

“He’s really important to you, huh?”

“Yeah, he really is.” It both terrified and thrilled him. “He’s different.”

“Then tell him,” Luke said.

“You make it sound so easy.”

“If you care about him, it shouldn’t be hard. He’s not going to leave, cupcake. That man is not the leaving type.” Taking Asher’s hand between both of his own, Luke squeezed gently. “Tell him, Ash. Tell him and trust him enough to stick around afterwards.”

Luke had always had a way of putting everything into perspective. “What would I do without you?”

“Die alone with nineteen cats.”

Asher tightened his hold on Luke’s hand, then released him. “Any tips on how to start?”

“Yeah.” Lounging back against the cushions, Luke smirked at him. “Say you’re sorry.”

~