Page 22 of Dirty Martini
“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 tothe 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 Eltongoodbye 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 dosomethingprevalent 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, becauseI’mloyal, I’ll do just that. But you need to know one thing, Everest.”
