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Dorian wondered what had caused Ashley to be so upset. Unfortunately, it became all too clear as revelations of the past fun Robin and Dorian had shared with Ben scrolled across his screen. Ancient history had been dredged to the surface and caused chaos in its wake.
“You don’t have to apologise, it’s okay. No, getting Niall involved would not help.” Ben was remaining calm, and Dorian had to admire him for it. “I know, I know. Look, I’ll come home. Change my flights and be back as soon as I can. Try and sleep while Davy sleeps.”
A string of love-yous and miss-yous later, Ben ended the call. “Right, I’m going to try to heed my own advice here and not let this get to me, but according to the gossips me, you and Robin, are now some sort of triad and my sleep-deprived husband isn’t seeing the funny side of it.”
“You need to get home.”
“Yes.”
Robin emerged, his face a picture of thunder. “Whoever leaked this about the three of us is going to regret it. I’ll ruin them and enjoy it.”
“You might need to get in the queue. Ashley is so exhausted he even threatened to ask his dad to take care of things.”
“Fucker would deserve it. I need to go back to the UK as soon as I can. I’ve also spoken to my father, he’s told me I can have the Flint corporate plane.”
“When are you leaving? I’ll come with you if you’re okay with that,” Ben said.
“I sort of expected you might. It’s scheduled for this evening.”
Dorian thought he might as well leave with them. “Room for one more?”
Robin frowned. “I didn’t think you’d be heading to the UK just yet. You’re welcome to stay here.”
“I know, but given the circumstances, it might now not be an option if the press find out I’m staying with you. Ben did offer that I could stay at Crofton Hall for a while.” Considering the gossip, he wouldn’t be surprised if Ben rescinded the invite. “I do have an apartment in London, if not, but I might see my mum as I don’t want to be on my own too much.”
“Don’t be daft, Dorian. You’re more than welcome.” Ben turned to Robin. “You’re fine with that, aren’t you? You’ve been unofficially at the hall for a while, but I assume you’ll be back in the US sooner than later.”
“I’m not going to dictate who you allow in your house. I’ve already decided it’s way past time I got my thumb out my arse and buy somewhere with Simon.”
“Sounds like a plan then. Spot of lunch then back to Blighty,” he said rubbing his hands together, feeling optimistic.
“I’ll order in. There’s no way we’re being seen out having lunch together—the next thing it’ll be some sort of post-orgy recovery brunch,” muttered Robin.
Dorian was looking forward to going home. It helped that he didn’t have to return to an upset partner like Ben and Robin, but he couldn’t wait to leave the US behind. He’d been out here longer than he cared to remember, feeling he always had to be in LA, in the spotlight to capitalise on the next opportunity. He didn’t need to do that now. If he never acted again, he’d be able to live off his considerable savings and investments, although he didn’t think he could be away from performing forever, there would always be a call-back in some way.
But now it was time for a new chapter in his life. The plot wasn’t written, but he was a believable main character without having to hide his true self. Time to reinvent himself, or at least scrape away the false layers.
CHAPTER9
Ben loathed the British press. To be fair, he loathed the press in every country. Once the news had broken about Robin and Dorian and his own limited involvement with them, his first thought after needing to get home had been the carnage at the airport and how, when he’d disembark, the press would report their flitting around. Robin had solved the issue, or rather his father had, and they’d set down at the private terminal of London Luton Airport. If it wasn’t usually too expensive for him to justify, it would be the only way to fly.
As an additional bonus, Luton was less than twenty minutes from home and, while he’d flown from there often to mainland Europe, there hadn’t been a way to fly transatlantic. Robin had spent most of the flight working and, given the depth of his foul mood, Ben and Dorian had kept their distance. He’d managed a few hours of sleep, more than Davy allowed, and they were landing early morning UK time. He couldn’t wait to see Ashley, he’d been away two days but it felt too long after listening to Ashley’s exhausted apologies.
A car collected them, another thing to thank Flint Industries for, and Robin appeared to have calmed a little. “I’ll drop you pair at the hall first, but I’m heading straight to Simon’s after that.”
“Come to dinner? If not tonight then tomorrow?” Ben asked. “Might be better to have people around you?”
“Probably. I’ll see what Simon says. To be honest, I might just crawl into bed with him and stay there until he forces me out. I can’t remember his shift pattern.” He shook his head, angry at himself. “I should know that. It’s important.”
“I’m sure he knows you’re busy with work. He’s not going to be upset you forgot.” Simon and Robin worked because Simon wasn’t the type to hold things over him. This was Robin’s own guilt, nothing else.
“I’ll have it somewhere.” He was back searching through his phone.
Dorian raised his eyebrows, Ben thought it was a good job Robin hadn’t seen him. Dorian didn’t seem to know Robin well at all, despite having dated him for so long, Ben would have predicted this, still, Robin was a different man now, the last year had changed him so much and Simon’s unconditional support was an important part of his metamorphosis.
Ben always loved coming home to Crofton Hall, but this morning seeing her was a balm. It was still early, the household on the brink of waking. He motioned for Dorian to follow him around to the side. He’d sent word they were coming but not how early, not wanting to put Karl out any more than necessary. He should have realised that Karl would have known as he opened the side door when they arrived.
“You didn’t have to get up to meet us,” he said as Karl took his bag.
