39. Rhys

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Rhys

“Okay, spill. Tell me everything.”

I snort, taking a sip of my soda as I shake my head at Elton. We haven’t even ordered our food yet, and he’s already jumping straight to it. I thought he’d at least finish the beer he ordered before the line of questioning started.

“Well, Einstein first discovered the Theory of Relativity in 1905?—”

“ Ugh ,” he groans dramatically, giving me a mock glare. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

I chew the inside of my cheek. It’s not like I didn’t see this coming. Elton’s always been too nosy for his own good, and he has three months’ worth of gossip to catch up on. Thankfully, I’ve prepared for this and, unlike Everest, I know how to be chill under pressure.

“Fine,” I say coolly. “What do you want to know?”

“How’s Everest been? Has he been alright? Everything going well with him? Is he eating okay?” he questions, one after the other, in a great rush of breath.

“He’s great. You know, he passed all his finals.” That’s something I would know, but the pride that shines through my words can’t be hidden. “Worked really hard too.”

Elton must miss the obvious affection in my voice because he just nods, although it’s obvious he’s impressed. “That’s awesome! What else?”

“Well, he still likes those deviled ham and Cheese Whiz sandwiches he did when he was a kid,” I say, thinking back fondly to the cracker sandwiches we fed each other during the hurricane.

He throws me a look, not as impressed with that insight. “Anything juicier?”

I shake my head, fucking with my straw. “It’s not my place to tell you all the dirty details.”

Although there’s so much I could tell him. I could go on and on about how the affection and protectiveness I felt for Everest when he was younger never faded. I could talk about how sweet he is—vulnerable and pure—when you least expect it. I could boast about how confident he can be sometimes, like a little shit, keeping me on my toes.

But I keep that all in, even though I’m just dying to shout all the things I love about Everest Hill.

Elton doesn’t like my answer, but he sighs regardless. “Okay, true. You’ve got me.” He takes a long, contemplative sip of his beer. “He seems a bit weird, though.”

“What the fuck do you mean by that?” I snap, my blood suddenly boiling like a match struck.

Rearing his head back, he blinks at me repeatedly. “Woah, you good?”

Wow, that was a bit hostile for someone trying to keep it cool. But, fuck, I couldn’t help it. I know that Elton meant nothing by it, but the thought of him insulting my boyfriend sent me from zero to a hundred in a matter of seconds.

I clear my throat. Now is certainly not the time to get into this. Not on Elton’s first day back and definitely not at a restaurant. “Ugh, yeah. But what do you mean?”

“I don’t know. He’s squirrelier than usual,” he muses with a shrug. “He acted all twitchy when I asked him to go out with us.”

Yeah, I love the guy, but Everest can’t hide his feelings for shit. “I’m sure he’s fine.”

“There’s something wrong with him,” Elton presses, and I don’t like what I hear in his voice. It’s almost accusatory which, I guess, he has the right to be given the secret we’re keeping from him. It’s almost like he’s sniffing it out. But still, his words strike me again.

“There’s nothing wrong with him.”

“Seriously, what’s up with you?” he asks, chuckling to himself sheepishly like he’s not quite sure what to say.

“Nothing,” I grit out rather harshly. “Just don’t want to shit talk.”

He scoffs and raises his hands. “I wasn’t shit talking.”

“Fine,” I mutter, not acting cool or chill anymore.

Elton stares at me for a beat, partly like he doesn’t recognize me, and partly like he’s lost in the conversation. After a second of boring his eyes through my forehead, he sighs and takes another sip of his beer. “Fine. What about you? What’s new?”

Now this is something I can talk about easily. I take the respite and bring up one of the most recent changes in my life. “I got a job as head bartender.”

“Seriously?” he asks. He laughs and claps his hands together before reaching to shake my arm. “You’re going to rock that.”

“And…” I gulp, feeling like I might sound a bit ridiculous, but too excited not to share with him. “I might go back to school.”

His jaw hangs slack. “Are you kidding?”

I was expecting surprise, sure, but disbelief? “Why would I be?”

“You’ve never shown an ounce of interest in going back to school. Like, at all,” he says, brow furrowing. “I know you’re all about learning and shit, but this is a pretty big step.”

I know it is. He’s right that I’ve never considered it before, but things are different now. Everest opened my eyes to a future I could still believe in, to a dream that I buried a long time ago. “So? I can change my mind.”

“You? The most stubborn man I’ve ever met? Doubtful,” he scoffs. “What would you even study?”

“Mechanical engineering. To build roller coasters, you know?” My cheeks heat involuntarily as I scrape at the plastic lining of our menus.

“You mean from your doodles?”

“They’re more than doodles,” I defend.

He nods slowly, biting his bottom lip before smirking. “So, who is she?”

If I were drinking my soda, this would be a spit-take moment. I stop fucking with the menu and let out a forced laugh. “Excuse me?”

“The woman,” he presses, wagging his brows. “The one who’s making you think of a bright and shiny future.”

Even though he’s being lighthearted, I feel like I’ve been put under the spotlight. I swallow harshly. “There’s no woman.”

“Bull. Shit.” He enunciates each word with a suggestive smirk and a pointed finger. “You’re…different.”

“No, I’m not.”

He holds up a hand. “You’re my best friend, bro. I can tell. You seem lighter. Happier. I don’t know, it’s like you’re glowing or something.”

I can’t help but smile at his words, bashful, chuckling under my breath. “Yeah, I feel like that.”

“What’s her name?”

There’re a lot of things I could say. I could tell Elton to mind his own business, even though that’s a sentence I’ve never uttered to him before. But I owe it to my best friend to be as honest as I can, considering the circumstances.

My attraction to Everest came suddenly, and I never really processed it. I didn’t have to. I became so consumed by him that any sort of freakout just got put to the side. So, with a deep breath, I tell him, “She’s actually a he.”

He blinks at me and, for a second, I think that maybe the rustling of dishes in the background might have prevented him from hearing me. “I said?—”

“Wait, you’re into guys?” he asks, bulldozing through my admission.

“Bi, I think,” I say with a shrug. “I’m not too sure. I’m only attracted to him so far.”

He nods slowly, taking in my words. Downing his entire drink, he rubs his hand down his mouth before speaking. “So, you’re in love with a man.”

I don’t know how he jumped straight to love, but there’s no denying it. I might not be able to tell him who I’m completely gone for, but I can admit how incredible I feel. “Yeah, I am.”

“Tell me all about him,” he says excitedly, wiggling in his seat. “What’s he like?”

“He’s amazing. Perfect. I…” I trail off as I scratch the back of my neck, a little flustered, but in a good way. “He’s the one.”

“Fuck, I’m jealous,” he scoffs, but with no ill will. There’s almost a sadness in his eyes, buried under his happiness for me, but something dark and somber, nonetheless. “I want my one.”

I reach over and rub his wrist, giving him a bittersweet smile. “You’ll get there.”

He lets out a deep breath and then does what he does best. He sweeps that shit under the rug, locking down his own emotions as his expression transforms into one of enthusiasm. “When do I get to meet him?”

I gulp. I’ve been keeping it cool for Everest’s sake, but I truly don’t know how Elton is going to react. I want to think he’ll be happy for us, but I can’t be too sure. He and I have bonded in a way that’s closer than regular bros. We’re brothers. I don’t feel guilty that I love his little brother, but I do feel like a bit of an ass because I may have potentially crossed a line.

Still, I keep that smile on my face. “Soon. I promise.”

“Okay, I’ll let it go for now.” Although he looks nowhere near ready to do that, he manages to rein himself in. Our server comes up to us, but he waves her away politely before turning to me again. “Hey, I’m happy for you, man. Love you.”

“Love you too,” I whisper, the words not as easy to get out as they normally are.

“And thanks again.”

“For?”

“For looking out for my little brother.” He leans forward and claps me on my shoulder. “I knew I could trust you with him.”

There’s a lead weight in my gut as I nod and let out a half-hearted chuckle. “Yeah. No problem.”