Chapter 68
“Ash!”
“Ash, you—!”
As soon as Ashley showed up, chaos broke out all around him. Koi watched from a few steps away as the ice hockey team guys rushed toward Ashley in a swarm.
“What the hell? Sick again?”
“Seriously, can you even get sick this often? What’s all that muscle for?”
“Man, you were out for a few days but look totally fine? Don’t tell me you skipped just because you didn’t feel like coming.”
“No, dumbass.”
Ashley grinned and lightly tapped the last guy’s chin. The one who pretended to fly from the impact quickly bounced back to his spot, and the group erupted in noisy chatter. Koi stood there watching, an odd feeling welling up in his chest.
Is that what you call friendship?
He’d eaten with them and hung out a few times, but it had only been brief. Nothing compared to the bond they clearly shared—and nothing that ever would be. Their connection had been built long before Koi ever entered the picture.
Kind of... jealous.
Just as that bitter thought crossed his mind, Ashley turned back and held out his hand to Koi.