8. Everest

CHAPTER EIGHT

Everest

I wake up with a groan.

I try to stretch out my arms to quell my pounding head, but my hands bump clumsily into something hard and squishy. Peeling my eyes open, I gasp when I see Knox lying by my side.

He’s awake, that trademark smirk on his face as he squeezes my naked thigh under the covers. “Morning.”

“Morning,” I breathe, blinking at him repeatedly, trying to recall the events of last night. “Did we…?”

He shakes his head. “Nah, you were too toasted. I got you home and you let me crash.”

I nod, noting my dry mouth and general exhaustion. I must have gotten into it last night because I’m completely dead right now. Whatever I did?—

The night suddenly comes rushing back to me. The club with Elton, taking Molly, getting into that huge fight with Rhys.

Rhys .

With another groan, I drop my face into my hands. Holy fuck, I’ve made everything worse. So much worse. When he had called me Ev, helping me and making sure I was okay, I thought that maybe he was warming up to me and actually concerned about my wellbeing. He wouldn’t have pushed my sweaty hair away or rubbed my back if he didn’t at least care a little bit, would he?

But then something triggered him. No, I triggered him. Me, high as fuck, caused him to lose his shit. I think in a way he’s been wanting to do this since last week, but he’d held himself back. Well, not last night. Not only do I now have confirmation that he hates me as much as I thought, but I also stoked the flame of that rage by egging him on. Instead of submitting, I fought back.

I’m such an idiot.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Knox says. Following me as I sit up, he wraps his arms around my waist. “Breathe.”

“This isn’t good,” I mumble as I wiggle out of his hold. “The shit I said to Rhys…”

“You were high as hell, babe,” he soothes, trying to comfort me, to no avail. “Nobody should’ve taken any shit you said seriously when you were like that.”

Nausea pools in my stomach as I shake my head. “You weren’t there.”

“Well, what happened?”

My mind snaps back to the moment last night, but I push it away, not wanting to relive even a second of it. “Fuck. Nothing.”

He hums thoughtfully, not believing me, before he sighs. “What are your plans for today? Want to grab some breakfast.”

“No, we’re taking Elton to the airport—” Then it hits me, and my eyes widen. “Shit. We need to get you out of here without them seeing.”

Something passes over his face, a glint in his eyes that disappears a second later as he nods and gets up. He reaches for his discarded pants on the floor, pulling them over his underwear. “I’m good at sneaking out undetected. Don’t worry about it.”

The tone of his voice is harsh in a way I haven’t heard in a long time. I open my mouth to apologize. “Shit, Knox. I didn’t mean it like that?—”

“It’s fine,” he snaps, pulling on his T-shirt. Rounding the bed, he grasps my elbow and leans in to press a kiss to my cheek. “Just text me, alright? Let me know how shit goes down and if you need a place to lay low for a couple of days.”

“Thanks,” I mutter. Heart beating rapidly, I watch him leave, praying that Rhys and Elton aren’t awake yet.

I give Knox a few minutes, pacing in my room like an anxious teenager, finally unable to hold out any longer after five minutes. Pulling on a pair of sweats, I leave my room, heading straight to the kitchen where Rhys and Elton are already dressed and drinking coffee. I look around and don’t spot Knox, completely impressed while also creeped out at how he managed to leave without being seen.

“Hey, bro,” Elton greets, eyes bright for someone who drank as well last night. He grabs a cup and starts pouring coffee. “Want a cup?”

“Sure…” I mumble distractedly, eyes still pinging on the walls to see if maybe Knox is pulling some movie shit and hiding behind the curtains. “Um, yeah.”

“You have a good night?” he asks, handing me the cup as he cocks his head to the side. “You okay?”

“Me? Oh, yeah. Totally fine.” I try my best to smile reassuringly, and I think he buys it.

“A really good night?” Rhys presses, acting like a complete asshole as he raises an eyebrow. “Tell us, Everest. What did you get up to last night?”

“ Nothing ,” I bite out, but then it hits me that he hasn’t told Elton what went down. He couldn’t have. Elton would be freaking the fuck out if he knew how high I got, and he’d be extra furious at knowing that Knox was with me. I calm down a little bit, wondering what kind of game Rhys is playing, and turn to Elton. “You ready to go soon?”

He nods. “Definitely. Suitcases are already in the car. Just have to get my bag out of my room.”

As he walks past me, he squeezes my shoulder and disappears into the first-floor hallway where the master bedroom is, leaving just me, Rhys, and a fuck ton of awkward tension in the air. We stare at each other, eyes unbreaking as I take a sip from my coffee, trying to figure out what to say. “So, you didn’t say anything.”

He jerks his chin. “Nope.”

“Why?”

“It didn’t seem like any of my business.”

My breath hitches at that. After last night, I thought he might not be able to wait to tell my brother all about the shit I’m into. To paint me as the villain he believes I am. The fact that he hasn’t said anything… It could be for some ulterior motive, but I doubt that. Maybe?—

“Don’t be flattered,” he scoffs. Rolling his eyes, he pushes himself off the kitchen island. “I didn’t do shit for you. I just didn’t want to upset Elton before his big trip.”

Well, there goes that theory.

“Right,” I swallow, forgetting all about the possibility that Rhys might be looking out for me, if anything the tiniest bit.

I fidget with my cup, unable to stand the pregnant air between us. I’m still pissed from last night, still so sure I don’t need a babysitter, and still completely hurt at what Rhys said. I have to remember that he doesn’t give a shit about me—only Elton—and any semblance of friendship I thought we could have had has flown out the window.

“Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to get dressed?” He gestures at my bare chest. “If you want to go to the airport, I’m not waiting on your ass. Elton isn’t missing this flight.”

“I’m going,” I hiss, slamming my cup down so hard on the table that coffee splashes from the rim. “You don’t have to be a dick about it.”

“And you don’t have to be so fucking selfish all the time.”

My breath catches in my throat. I feel my cheeks redden from embarrassment, or something similar, as I push my way past him. “Fuck you, Rhys.”

He snorts and gives me the finger as I pass. “Fuck you right back, Everest.”

As I walk up the stairs to my room, I can’t believe I ever thought Rhys was cool. I can’t believe the years I spent idolizing him as a kid, or the fact that seeing him shirtless for the first time was my key to realizing I like guys over girls.

No, now he’s just the asshole I’m forced to live with. Someone tied to me by a misguided obligation to make sure I’m okay. Someone who hates my guts and has to put up with me. It’s crystal clear now that living with Rhys isn’t going to be easy.

My heart pounds harder as I make it to my room, fingers shaking as I get dressed. Every wayward thought I’ve ever had comes crashing in, and it feels hard to breathe. My vision blurs and I collapse onto the floor, wishing that I didn’t feel so terribly alone. I fold myself in half, tucking my legs against my chest, and start rocking.

You’re such a piece of shit.

Look at the mess you’ve made.

You’re nothing but trouble.

I suck in sharp, shallow breaths as sweat pools on the back of my neck. I tell myself that I need to get up, that I need to get ready, that I’m way too sensitive and taking this all to heart. That very same heart can’t seem to calm down, though, and I curse the fact that I’m so ridiculously weak.

Weak and pathetic.

Waving Elton goodbye makes my stomach fill with dread.

As he bounces toward the TSA line, all smiles and anticipation, I can only focus on the body standing beside me. I chance a glance at Rhys, seeing the bright smile on his face as he waves at Elton. This is the Rhys I remember. Happy, compassionate, caring.

But then, once Elton is out of our view, he turns to me, and I realize that I’m getting the exact opposite.

He walks away, stalking toward the front of the airport, and I can do nothing but trail along after him. We make our way out the door and toward the garage where we parked, silent the entire time. I chew on the inside of my cheek as we arrive at his Saturn, guilt churning in my stomach, the need to do something prevalent and strong.

“Hey, Rhys?”

“What the fuck do you want?” he snaps, fishing his keys out of his pocket. “Just get in the damn car, Everest.”

I grit my teeth. I’m going to stand my ground. We have to talk about last night. I want to make him understand that… I don’t know. I just hate that we’re like this. I know I deserve it, but I at least deserve a chance to make it better, don’t I?

“No,” I state, crossing my arms over my chest. “We need to talk.”

Ever-so-slowly, he raises an eyebrow, cocking his head to the side as he prowls around the back of his Saturn to me. Like a predator sniffing out his prey. “You want to talk?”

Yeah, I do. But now that I have Rhys’s full attention, I’m questioning my actions. “Y-Yeah.”

He drags his teeth across his bottom lip as his eyes assess me. For a moment, he’s silent and tense, but then he nods slowly and holds up his hands. “Okay. Let’s talk. Mind if I start?”

“Yeah,” I breathe. Hope blossoms within me at seeing the reasonable Rhys I grew up knowing and admiring. “Of course.”

“I think you don’t quite understand what’s going on,” he begins, moving toward me. Before I know it, he’s caging me against the car, both hands bracketing either side of me. He smirks, but it’s nowhere near pleasant, and it fills me with sinister dread. “I’ve been charged with making sure you stay in one piece this summer and, because I’m loyal, I’ll do just that. But you need to know one thing, Everest.”

“W-What’s t-that?” I stutter, unable to contain my fear as he leans forward, so close that his nose brushes against mine. “Rhys?—”

“Take care of him, look out for him, be there for him,” he says, huffing to himself. “That’s not going to happen. I’ll do the bare minimum to keep my promise. But Everest, if you push me, if you egg me on, if you do anything to fuck with me, I won’t be keeping that promise.” One hand raises to wrap around my throat. “Listen to me because I’m only going to say this once. Fuck with me, and I’ll do everything possible to make your life a living hell. Challenge me, and you’ll find that I’ll fucking win. I’ll win and reduce you to absolutely nothing, just like you deserve, just like you’ve done to me. Do you understand?”

I’m completely speechless. I knew his hatred ran deep, but this… This is too much. This is a declaration of war, a very clear line being drawn, a threat.

But even though I want to argue and lash out and defend myself, I keep my mouth shut. I don’t say anything as he gives my cheek a solid pat, almost like a slap, and steps away. He gets into the car, and I think he realizes that I might need a minute to process what just happened.

It shouldn’t matter what Rhys thinks of me. We just have to cohabitate and that’s that. Elton will come back from his trip eventually and act as a buffer. I don’t have to engage with Rhys or do anything remotely resembling trying to build a friendship. All I have to do is avoid him.

That should be easy, right?