Glass Hearts [BL]
Chapter 76: Do I Give Off Gay Vibes?

Chapter 76: Do I Give Off Gay Vibes?

I still hadn’t figured out how she knew.

June.

The question kept bouncing around my head.

Had I stared too long at Dominic and his hot friends? Or did she just... know? People like her always knew things. Girls who watched Euphoria and Elite with one eye and judged you with the other, could read your whole life.

My fingers tightened as I trailed the car window.

I was still thinking about how she figured it out....when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out.

Dominic:🥵

Hey pretty boy, you looked like you came at that spot. So sad I wasn’t there to touch you so you’d cum more. Where are y’all headed to?

I swear, I gripped my phone so tight I nearly cracked the screen.

My heart was thumping, I could literally feel the butterfly fluttering in my stomach.

I swallowed hard and typed fast.

Me:

I didn’t even notice you.

Obvious lie.

Lies that deserved jail time and community service.

I noticed everything.

I noticed his annoying, perfect smirk. His brushed-back hair. His unfairly sharp jawline and the way his shorts hugged his perfect legs.

Me:

We’re headed to Frosthaven Rink.

He replied immediately:

Dominic:

Ohhh that place. Fancy. I’ve got ice hockey practice in a few hours. Match next weekend. Missed all week ’cos of... well, you know. Last weekend.

Would’ve loved to see you skate though 😏

Of course he added a smirking emoji. Of course.

"Ash," June said, poking her head over my shoulder. "You’ve been blushing for ten minutes straight. Either you’re sexting or you’re overheating."

I rolled my eyes just as the cab pulled over.

The moment we stepped out, Marcus handed the fare to the cab driver. My head was still stuck thinking about Dom’s perfect lips and his annoying voice in my head.

Frosthaven Ice Rink.

I climbed out last, my phone kept buzzing in my hand.

The three of us stood at the entrance of Frosthaven Rink.

We followed the glowing signs into the rental area. Fluorescent lights, metal benches, and a long counter with a tired guy chewing gum.

"That’ll be thirty," he said, sliding over our skates.

We grabbed our sizes. June had neon pink laces. Marcus struggled to get his foot in like the skate and ended up with the laces around his ankle. I tied mine tight, feeling the cool leather hug my ankles.

Marcus kept whispering," What if I break my ankle?"

We stepped out onto the rink, as music played overhead...a soft piano. A family skated past us holding hands, a little girl giggling in her puffy pink coat. A couple kissed near the edge. Some teenagers were showing off tricks and falling dramatically.

This place hadn’t changed at all.

I hadn’t been to this rink since I was a kid. Not since... Well, the Christmas before everything broke.

I blinked up at the ceiling, swallowed the tightness in my throat, and forced a smile.

I could still hear their voices. Still see mom and dad on the ice.

God, I didn’t want to be here.

Suddenly, June’s elbow nudged me gently.

"You okay?" she asked, tilting her head.

Her eyes searched my face like she already knew the answer.

I blinked fast, like that would push the memories back where they belonged. "Yeah. Just haven’t skated in a while."

She didn’t push, thank God.

"Hey, June?" I whispered beside her.

"Yeah?" She turned, adjusted her headband, ready to glide out.

I hesitated.

"Can I ask you something?"

She tilted her head. "Of course. Unless it’s about math. I’ve already emotionally checked out of algebra."

"No..it’s, uh....about earlier. You said it like... you knew."

She blinked. "Knew what?"

I shoved my hands into my pockets as I glided forward. "Like... knew. About me."

She squinted, then started skating backward as I followed. "Ash, you okay? I don’t get what you’re trying to say, Ash."

"I mean..." I sighed. "Do I... give off gay vibes?"

She stopped mid-glide.

"Do you what?"

"Give gay vibes?" I said it quieter this time.

Her mouth dropped. "Ash. You bedazzled your cast when you broke your arm."

"I was bored, besides it’s creativity."

"You cried during Moana."

"That was one time."

"And your ’straightvoice’ sounds like a squirrel having a panic attack."

"I DO NOT HAVE A STRAIGHT VOICE."

She burst out laughing. "That’s because you don’t have a straight anything, babe."

"Is it that obvious?" I bit my lip, smiling faintly. "Because... I’ve been confused for so long. Not like I didn’t know. But... I wasn’t sure. And I didn’t know how to say it. Or who to say it to."

She softened. "Ash, I’ve known you since forever. You used to talk about which Marvel guy had the best biceps. You rejected every girl who ever flirted with you....including the one who baked you cookies in middle school."

"Oh my god," I groaned. "I still feel bad about it."

I swallowed. "So... you’re cool with it?"

June took my gloved hand and squeezed it. "Ash, you’re my best friend. And I’ll always love you. You don’t have to figure everything out right now. But I’m really glad you said finally told me, even though I kinda already knew."

I nodded. My throat felt tight, but not in a bad way. Not like I was choking on fear. More like... relief.

"You gonna tell Marcus too?" she asked gently.

I looked toward the bench where Marcus was sitting, arms folded, glaring at his skates like they were plotting against him.

When the time’s right," I said. "I want to. Just... not yet."

She nodded.

"I think he’ll be cool about it," she added. "But I get it."

I smiled. "Thanks."

Then I shoved her lightly and skated away.

She shrieked. "ASH!"

We stumbled together, nearly falling, and for a second, we laughed so hard.

I glanced toward Marcus again.....he was on his butt now, defeated, muttering something.

We skated over to him.

He was still sitting.

"Come on, baby giraffe," June called. "Time to learn to glide."

"I can’t feel my butt again," Marcus said. "It’s frozen."

"You’ll be fine." June laughed as she held out her hand.

"I hate everything about this," Marcus muttered.

"Come on, you got this," I said, holding one of his arms while June took the other.

Slowly, carefully, we guided him forward. He wobbled, cursed, and somehow managed to stay upright.

"You’re doing it!" June said.

Marcus grumbled. "I’m gonna sue the ice if I fall again."

"You fall again and I’m uploading it to TikTok," I threatened.

A slow song faded out over the speakers, and I was finally beginning to relax, gliding beside June.

I reached out and spun myself, landing perfectly before bumping into marcus. "You’re getting better," I said, breathless and grinning.

He laughed, just as his skates wobbled. "That’s because I haven’t fallen in, like, five minutes."

Then the music changed.

A slow, seductive beat slid through the air.

"ForbiddenFruit" by Tommee Profitt.

I knew that song. The kind of song that made your heart beat in your throat and made your chest feel too tight. The kind you only hear when something is about to happen.

I lifted my head.

And there he was.

Dominic.

And everything stilled.

Standing at the entrance of the rink, skate shoes in hand, that same unreadable smirk on his lips.

I froze mid-glide.

Then.....

BAM.

I fell.

Right on my butt.

"Shit!" I hissed, wincing as my hands slapped the cold rink surface.

"Sorry," I read his lips, as he whispered from far.

The world around me blurred....the chaos of kids skating, the whir of blades, even Marcus’s dramatic wailing in the background....all of it faded.

And his eyes... God.

They were the kind of blue you only see in frozen lakes. Like ice that could crack beneath your feet if you weren’t careful.

They glittered under the rink lights, catching every shimmer like the ice itself had reflected straight into his gaze.

June whipped around, skated back to me with concern and then followed my gaze.

"Oh," she said.

Dominic stepped forward, and beside him of course....was Ian. And Ren.

All three of them walked like they owned the place, laughing about something I couldn’t hear. Dominic caught my eyes again. And smiled.

Not like a smirk. Not like a tease.

Just... smiled.

"What the hell are they doing here?" Marcus groaned from behind us, clutching the railing as he tried not to fall again.

I stood up slowly.

"Seriously," Marcus muttered. "They’re following us now? How would they even know we’d be here?"

June gave him a look. "Marcus. Chill. It’s a public rink.."

"Besides, who cares? They’re probably just here to skate."

I was the reason Dominic showed up. I told him I’d be here... and he actually came. He came to watch me.... and I fell right on my butt.

June leaned in, and whispered into my ear.

"Well, well... looks like the forbidden fruit just walked in." She smirked, eyes flicking toward the entrance.

Then she gave me a wink.

"I’m gonna go say hi to Ren. Watch Marcus, make sure he doesn’t fall on his butt again.."

And with that, she pushed off, gliding toward the other side of the rink.

Behind me, Marcus scoffed In annoyance.

"I can’t believe she’s actually going back to talk to him," he muttered. "Whatever. I’m outta here."

He reached for the railing, already stomping toward the exit.

"Marcus, wait..."

I skated after him, nearly tripping as I followed him out.