Page 71 of Small Sacrifices

"Oh." Everett's hands are in his pockets again. "So what, are you a thing now?"

There's a sharp undertone to the words that confuses Reid at first. And then, it infuriates him.He's jealous.That has to be it. Reid squeezes his eyes closed against a hot wave of frustration. This can't be happening.

"Of course." Everett has his hands raised as if in defeat. "I was just surprised. It's quick."

"Quick." The word tastes like ash in Reid's mouth as he repeats it.

"Well, yeah. Or maybe I was imagining things. I probably was, I tend to do that. It's just... I thought that maybe there was something between us."

The gravel crunches under Reid's feet as he shifts in place. He wants to run. But Everett is conveniently blocking his most plausible route of escape. Does he know that's what he's doing?

"You said we could only be friends," Reid says, because what else can he say?I thought that there was something between us, too?HelikesEverett, that much he knows for sure. But he doesn't know much beyond that. And he also doesn't know what Everett means bysomething. Something romantic? Sexual? Both?

Everett's shoulders slump. "I know. But I think I underestimated how it would make me feel to think of you with someone else."

The urge to say something along the lines of"tough luck"is strong. This was Everett's choice. But then again, Everett probably took Reid's situation into consideration. He doesn't want Reid to lose his job.

"I don't think it's fair to put that on me," Reid says weakly. "Can you please—"

"That's not what I'm doing, though!"

Fire licks up Reid's spine. "Yes, you are. You're just presuming things and not letting me leave. Don't put this on me.Youmade a decision and nowyoushould take care that you can handle the consequences. None of this is my fault."

Everett throws his head back with a groan, hands in his hair. "No, it isn't. But it's still difficult to realize that you're not actually interested. I thought... I don't know what I thought."

The words "I never said that" are out of Reid's mouth before he can even think about stopping them. He hopes—in vain—that Everett hasn't heard him or has maybe misunderstood. But it's unmistakable in his wide eyes that hedidunderstand.

"What?" It's almost a whisper. But the hope in Everett's eyes is a roar. Reid doesn't know what to do with that. It doesn't look particularly platonic.

"Nothing," he says. His stomach is churning. For something to do, he tries to detach the carabiner with his keys and badge from his belt loop, but he fumbles it. The sound of the keys pricks his eardrums.

The emotions seem to war on Everett's face. His brows are furrowed, but there's the tiniest smile curling around the corners of his mouth. "Didn't sound like nothing to me. It sounds like you're notnotinterested."

"That's irrelevant," Reid says and takes a step forward, carabiner finally dangling from his finger. "Can you please let me through? I need to get home."

"Irrelevant?" The words have a hysterical edge to them. "How is it irrelevant?"

Reid sighs. "You said we were friends. It's irrelevant. Please let me through."

He tries again, but Everett lays a hand on his arm, which stops him in his tracks. "Hey, hold on. One minute, please?"

Even as he nods, Reid knows that this is going to take longer than just a minute. But Everett's eyes are just so large and dark. Arresting. He takes a fortifying breath when he sees Everett's Adam's apple bob.

"Did I understand that right? You're interested in me?"

Since Reid isn't about to say yes, and he also can't lie to save his life, he just stares. Everett sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Fair enough. But are you and Marisol a thing?"

"No. I already said that." Is he not listening? If he isn't listening, why did he catch the one thing he wasn't supposed to?

"Right. Are you interested in Marisol?"

"Marisol is a colleague and a friend. We have interesting conversations. She's very nice."

There's an indent in Everett's cheek like he's biting it on the inside. "Nice."

"I like her." It's not a statement intended to hurt. But Reid can see that's what it does. One of Everett's eyebrows twitches and he takes a deep breath. His exhale is shaky.

"You like her," he repeats, voice completely flat. "What does that mean?"

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