38. Everest
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Everest
The time has come, and I swear I’m about to throw up.
It doesn’t help that it’s hot as fuck, the sticky humidity clinging to my skin, making me sweat through my tank top. We’re waiting for Elton at the pick-up lane, the crowd of people making me somehow feel claustrophobic out in the open air. Jesus, what if the sweat starts to make me smell? I mean, Rhys likes messing around after I work out, but?—
“You need to calm down.”
I glance at Rhys, who’s leaning against the hood of my car with his muscular arms crossed, looking like an entire snack and a half, while also appearing impossibly relaxed. “Don’t tell me to calm down.”
“Don’t be a brat. You know what I mean. You look guilty as hell.”
“We’ve kept this from him,” I whisper-shout, acting like he’s going to pop up any minute, because he is.
“And we’ll tell him, but not before we’re ready, which certainly isn’t now, so calm the fuck down .”
His hand shoots out, but he clears his throat and pulls it back quickly. He grinds his jaw like he’s annoyed he can’t touch me. That little act makes me feel better, even if only a bit. I smile, still a bit shaken, but nod. “You’re right. Okay, calm. Cool as a cucumber. Icy like the breeze.”
He snorts. “Jesus Christ, we’re doomed.”
I flip him off, opening my mouth to say something snarky back, but a loud and excited voice cuts through the noise of the entire Miami International Airport.
“Bros!”
Elton comes barreling out of the door, somehow tugging all his luggage behind him. He knocks into a few people, but he doesn’t seem to notice or care, his attention solely fixed on us. When he approaches, it’s like all his luggage multiplies as he halts to a stop. He chucks everything to the ground and, before I know it, he’s tackling me into the Jeep.
“Holy shit, Everest!” he shouts, jostling me in his arms. He pulls back and ruffles my hair. “Do you just keep growing?”
My face heats as he lets me go. “Um, yeah, well…”
“Hey,” Rhys says, a half-smirk on his face as he saves me by slapping Elton’s shoulder. “Long time no see.”
“You motherfucker!” Elton grabs Rhys by the waist and, using the impressive Hill strength, lifts and twirls him. “Damn, I’ve missed you.”
“Yeah, yeah, put me down,” Rhys laughs, hugging him after he sets him down.
“Ah, just look at this. Both of my brothers, here together to greet me.” Elton’s smiling wide as he slings an arm over each of our shoulders. “Shit, we have so much to catch up on. I want to know exactly how you filled the summer.”
Well, I spent it being filled by your best friend’s cock, so…
“Let’s go home, then,” Rhys says and helps Elton with his luggage. “I’m sure you’re tired after such a long flight.”
Elton nods. “Super.” He looks at me, placing his hand on my shoulder with such a soft and hopeful expression. “It’s good to be back.”
And once again, I feel like the piece of shit that isn’t able to return his affection.
Welcome home, Elton.
“Knock, knock.”
I snap my head up from my phone, sitting up straight on my bed as Elton walks in.
“Oh, Elton, hey,” I say lamely, giving him a tiny wave. I thought he’d pass out as soon as we got home, but I guess an hour power nap was enough for him. Sucks because I was just about to go see if Rhys wanted to watch a movie or just see him, really.
“Rhys and I were going to grab something to eat,” he tells me, jutting his thumb over his shoulder. “You want to come along?”
There goes my plan of potentially sneaking some time in with my boyfriend. I consider his offer, knowing it would be nice to just be around Rhys and that Elton would love it if I came. But the very thought of sitting at a table with my secret boyfriend and his best friend is enough to make me break out into figurative hives.
“Um, no,” I reply quickly. “You two should catch up.”
Inching forward into my room, he chuckles under his breath. “Well, I want to catch up with you too.”
I shake my head. “No, really, we can catch up later.”
“You don’t want to hear about my trip?” he asks but, like always, there’s no malice in his voice. “Valencia was incredible. The food, the culture, the romance.”
“You went looking for romance?” I snort. “Thought maybe you’d want more hookups than anything else on a three-month trip.”
This makes him pause. His brow furrows, almost in sadness, as he shakes his head. “No, I’ve never liked one-night stands. I’m looking for love.”
He says it as if it should be self-explanatory, and I suddenly feel like an ass. My attempt at a joke just manages to hurt him. Everything I do hurts him. I wish I was strong enough and brave enough to tell him everything. How I’ve felt all my life to no fault of his own, my anxiety and the fact that I’m starting therapy, the reason I pulled away, and my relationship with Rhys.
“Sorry. I knew that. I—” I clear my throat, seeing that the more I speak, the sadder he gets. I laugh as lightly as I can. “Have fun at dinner. We can catch up later.”
“Yeah, sure,” he says, but he can’t hide his disappointment. “Whenever you want, little bro.”
He leaves, and I’m left all alone to wonder just when that’ll be.