Salt in the wound
The twins decided to go find Ashton after his training. Nicky thought going out for an ice-cream together would liven things up again.
—
Ash and Liam left the lockers after practice, Emily was waiting for them outside. "So can you go out today or not?" She said as soon as she saw them.
- Emily, I already told you that not today- Ashton felt somewhat embarrassed to have this conversation in front of Liam.
-Leave him alone Emily. -Liam said with a tone that Ash didn't recognize.
- Relax man, I just want to hang out. Besides, he likes it. It's not my fault he doesn't realize you're after...
"Shut up Emily," Liam interrupted.
- Okay... can you relax? Both of you. - Ash got a little upset, he didn't want to start a fight.
"I'm sorry," Liam said, sounding really sorry.
"Ash and I are friends who hooked up sometimes, it's not my problem that you..." Emily began to say.
"Are we friends?" Ash said.
- Yes, well, in part, yes.
Liam started to laugh, Ash hit him in a friendly way to shut him up.
Suddenly a car parked next to the three of them, it was Andrew's Maserati. The window rolled down, revealing Neil.
"Hi Ashton," he said timidly. Ash raised an eyebrow curiously, he wasn't expecting them. A hand pushed Neil's face away from the window, it was Andrew: - Get in, we are going to eat ice cream.
-Okay.
Ash turned to say goodbye to his friends, now plural.
-Bye, see you tomorrow.
Liam and Emily were wide eyed, neither said anything still looking at the car. Ash assumed they were looking at the Maserati and went inside, sitting between Nicky and Aaron, Kevin was not with the group. Andrew started the car without waiting for his friends to say anything.
—
They went to a shopping centre. "This is Andrew's favourite ice cream shop in Palmetto," Nicky explained.
"What ice cream do you want Ashton?" Aaron asked.
-Cheesecake- his favourite, just like his father.
-Good choice.
They sat down to wait for their ice creams.
"Those were your friends Ashton?" Nicky asked.
-Yeah.
- What are their names? What are they like?
- Liam and Emily, they are... fine.
- You are not very talkative, are you?
-Aaaa... I don't suppose so.- Ash knew that Nicky wasn't trying to offend him, but he still cringed a little.
Aaron nudged Nicky. - Aauu.. it hurts, don't hit me so hard.
Andrew and Neil appeared with the ice-cream.
"Was that girl your girlfriend?" Was the first thing Andrew said, staring at his brother again. Ash turned red- No, she's just my friend.
Andrew nodded.
-Anthony.- Aaron said, getting Ash's attention.- He treated you well?
He noticed how everyone was staring at him now.
-You mean the drug trafficking? I wasn't part of the business if that's what you mean.-he answered alarmed.
- He is in jail for dealing drugs??- Aaron said surprised.- I meant if he hit you or hurt you in some way.
"No, he never hurt me." Ashton felt the tension in Aaron's shoulders disappear, although he still wasn't completely relieved. "You didn't know why he was in jail?"
-No. Do you hate him?- Andrew said.
Ashton was surprised, but without thinking for a second he replied: - No, I don't hate him. I miss him. - He suddenly felt very vulnerable. Aaron's look now was sad.
"What about your mother?" Andrew continued. We share a father but not a mother.
- I don't remember much, she died when I was little.
- How did he die?- Andrew, he was more of a gossip than Ashton thought, he still answered.
- She cut her veins and walked into the sea.- Ash said without any feeling of sadness. - She was bipolar.
Andrew nodded again.
-What about your mother?
Aaron looked at Andrew, then turned and said, "She's also passed away."
"I don't have a mother" Andrew answered at the same time.
"What?" Ash asked, confused. Aaron looked sad and Andrew angry.
-Mom died in an accident.- Aaron said
- I... - Andrew began to say.
- Andrew!! Not now, not yet! - Aaron shouted. Some customers looked at them because of the noise. The twins seemed to be in a staring battle.
Nicky intervened before anything could happen.
- Ashton ever told you when Erik and I....
—
Despite the fight at the ice cream parlour, Ashton seemed to have a more positive attitude than the day before, so Andrew didn't bring up the subject of family again.
When they got home, Andrew locked himself in his room with Neil. Kevin was spending time with Wymack, father-son bonding time.
-Do you think I shouldn't tell Ashton that I killed Aaron's mother?
-No, not yet. Wait till we know more about him.- Neil was changing and Andrew couldn't take his eyes off him.
-Have you thought about Kevin yet?- Andrew said, feeling horny.
-About him wanting a girlfriend?
Andrew smiled, a maniacal smile, it was one of the ways to laugh at him. Although the expression did not last long.
-When you think of Kevin, how do you feel?-Andrew approached his partner.
-I think that he is annoying, perfectionist and addicted to exy.
Andrew grabbed Neil around his waist and pulled him to himself. - You can't complain about that, you're worse. But that's not what I meant.
- Yes or no?
- Yeah.
Andrew pushed Neil onto the bed and got on top of him. He gave him a deep kiss and then went down his chest, Neil moaned very loudly. So he bit his hand so he wouldn't be heard.
-Andreww.. aaaa!!!
-Shhh... do you like to be heard???
Neil was completely red and he couldn't take his gaze from Andrew.
-Do you know who would like to hear you??-he asked between kisses.
-Aaaahh...
-Kevin, imagine him here, like this, with us. You would like it, right?
Andrew didn't usually talk during sex, it was Neil who wouldn't shut up, but today Andrew felt the need to make things clear to him.
"Andrew... I need you... aaa..." Neil begged him.
So Andrew continued on his way downstairs.
—
Ashton went into his room and lay down on the bed, exhausted. He took his cell phone, he had a message from Liam. He entered the chat.
LIAM: WHAT THE FUCK!!!!
Ashton didn't get the message, was it about Emily? He didn't understand what Liam had against her. So he called him, something he hadn't done before. As the phone rang he began to think, was Liam angry? He knew it was probably just his insecurities.
Liam answered and yelled: What the fuck!! Why did you not tell me???
- Tell you what?
- That your brothers are The Minyards and that Neil Josten rides in your car. I thought your last name was a coincidence, there is nothing about you on the internet.
- How do you know them?
- Dude! I know you don't use technology much, I've seen your cell phone from prehistory, but you seriously don't know who you live with???
- Andrew Minyard is one of the best goalkeepers I have seen in the history of exy. Is he going pro?
Ash knew that his brothers were tremendous players from the games he had seen, but he didn't know that they were famous.
-I thought Kevin was the only famous one, he's the one I remember from when he followed the news.
- You know Kevin Day????
-Yes, they are friends.
- Get on a video call. Does your mobile allow you to do that?
-I guess- It took him a few minutes to find the video call button, he had never used it before.
Liam's face appeared on his broken screen. He's smiling and behind him was a big poster of Kevin Day, Ash couldn't contain his laughter.
- Don't laugh, Kevin Day is the best player in history.
- Are my brothers well known too?
- Of course, whoever doesn't know them lives under a rock like you. Damn, and after what happened... what the hell. I'm so sorry Ash.
- What happened?
-You already know about your brothers and that guy who... well... you know...
- I'm very confused.
- Bro, what happened last year.
- I do not know what you are talking about.
- You don't know what happens in your own house or what?
- It's just that I just met them, it's complicated.
- I think I'm not following you.
Ashton told him a small version of how he met his brothers.
"My, I'm sorry Ash. So you don't know what happened?
- Don't tell me, I prefer that they tell me.- Ash wanted to earn his trust.
They spent the night talking until they fell asleep.