It's been a while since there's been a sneak peek...
I actually thought I had posted this months ago and felt bad about not putting the chapter out, but no, I never did, so...
Remember back during the Skate America chapters how Viktor got all bent out of shape about Yuuri's fashion sense?
Well.........
“Yuuri! Come here!”
Halfway down the hall that led to the banquet hall—sorry, the ‘Big Top,’ because the organizers had decided to do something a little less traditional and opted for a circus-themed banquet—Matthew Smith, ice dancer and Scythecapades drama instigator, was frantically waving his arms. His partner, Carolyn Jones, covered her mouth with one impeccably manicured hand while gripping a drink. The pair seemed in high spirits even though they'd only taken silver instead of the hoped-for gold, having lost out to their Canadian rivals.
With a sigh, Yuuri shoved his hands into his pockets and headed toward the ice dancers. He didn’t know them well by any means, but supposed they were familiar enough at this point for more than just an exchange of pleasantries. After all, they did start the game with the suit—the one he was currently wearing—at the Four Continents banquet. Viktor had complained about the lack of decent pictures from the event for almost a week after the fact, which had honestly thrilled Yuuri a little bit. If he was going to be in love with his best friend who did not love him back, he deserved to find enjoyment in “teasing” and “torturing” and “being mean” to Viktor, and his myriad of mixed and confusing signals.
Matt’s eyes settled on Yuuri’s neck. The American skater’s lips instantly turned up into a knowing smile, the kind that looked ready to explode into a laugh at any moment. “Nice tie. What happened to the one you were wearing at Four Continents with this suit?”
“It’s a funny story, actually–”
Matt put a finger up to cut him off. “If it really is, we should put a pin in you telling it until your friend who just arrived finishes glad-handing with the ISU brass and makes his way over here.” He nodded meaningfully toward the other end of the hallway. Yuuri didn’t even bother turning around because it was obvious that Matt meant Viktor. After all, who else but Viktor would care about Yuuri’s neckwear?
Caro leaned forward into Yuuri’s space, giving the cheap tie an inspection of her own. The ice dancer had left her box braids down today, except for a handful that had been twisted up into a crown. The overall effect, paired with her pale pink dress against her rich brown skin, was incredibly beautiful. “Please tell me you did this on purpose,” she snickered as she ran her fingers over the material. “I need you to have done this on purpose.”
“Not exactly,” Yuuri replied, pulling away from Caro’s grasp. “I just seized an opportunity, I guess.”
“Yuuri! Have Matt and Caro cornered you?” Viktor chimed in from behind, his voice getting closer and closer. “They aren’t trying to proposition you, are they?”
What? Why was Viktor being weird? No one was going to proposition him. Only Viktor (and of course Steph, even though she knew the answer was no) had ever shown an interest in taking him to bed. “No, not at all.” Yuuri turned around to look at Viktor. “I don’t even know why you’d ask that.”
Viktor instantly stopped dead and was just staring at him now. His brow was creased, his mouth slightly opened, and his eyes wide, whatever weird teasing mood he’d been in a moment prior well gone now. Next to him, Chris grinned broadly, looking as close to breaking out in laughter as Matt had been. “Is this the tie you were wearing at the Four Continents banquet?”
