Page 93 of Dirty Martini
“I was left out.Again.”
This takes me by surprise. I rear my head back. “Excuse me?”
“He chose you over me, Rhys,” he explains, and I hate the way his voice cracks. “He chose you to trust. I’ve been dying to get close to him and you took that instead.”
I don’t know what to say. I knew that Elton missed the relationship he had with his brother, but I didn’t realize he was…jealous? Is that what this is? “There’s no either/or, Elton. He can be in a relationship with me and still be close to you.”
Shaking his head, he digs his fingers into his hair. “But he doesn’t want to be. He kept his life away from me for four years and he’sstilldoing it.”
I understand now. Jealous might be an exaggeration, but it’s the closest to what I think Elton is feeling. All he wants is to be close to his brother, to be loved by his brother, tobea brother,and he feels like that chance has been taken from him. While I love Everest, it doesn’t blind me to the fact that the way he’s treated Elton has one hundred percent led to this moment. But that was the past—past mistakes, past regrets, pastwhat ifs—and this is now.
I clap a hand on Elton’s shoulder, tugging him toward me. “I won’t tell you why there’s this distance between you because it’s not my place. All I can say is that he wants what you want too. You just need to talk to him.”
He worries the inside of his cheek as he takes that in. Then, instead of pressing for more, he surprises me again. “Do you really love him?”
I smile. Fuck, it’s the easiest question to answer. “More than all the space.”
“I don’t know what that means, but I’m guessing it’s a yes.” He chuckles, and this time, it’s lighthearted. Granted, it’s still in disbelief, but I’d like to think it’s a more accepting kind. “But, man, my little brother? I can’t unsee that shit.”
I let out a full laugh at that. Yeah, okay, I’ll give him that one. That sucked. “Be happy for us, asshole.”
“I’m trying.” He punches my shoulder playfully. “So, does this mean he’s going to hog all your time? You won’t have any left for your best friend?”
I snort. “You clingy fucker.”
“Ugh, I’m going to be the third wheel now,” he jokes, placing a dramatic hand over his heart. “Y’all are going to be so happy and in love, and I’ll be holding the popcorn.”
That sobers me up a bit. I sigh, rubbing his shoulder lightly because… Elton. Elton wants love. That’s all he’s ever searched for. He goes through girl after girl with absolutely no luck. He wants a family, a love story, and it’s always out of his reach. “You’ll find your person, Elt. Maybe just stop looking so hard?”
His face fills with intense longing, but only for a split second. Then—boom—he pulls an Elton. He grabs his controller and then a spare, holding it up. “You want to play a round?”
Yeah, there’s no use trying to get through to him. He’ll deal with his emotions in his own time. All I can do is be here for him when he does. “Sure. Then you and Everest are talking.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He starts up the game, but pauses. “Look, man, I’m happy for you. I really am.”
My heart warms at the sincerity in his tone. See, I knew at the end of the day that everything would be okay. Because I know Elton, and he’s not an asshole. “Thanks, man. Love you.”
He smiles brightly, throwing me an air kiss. “Same here.”
So we play a round or two, joking just like we used to before he left, everything behind us. We’re okay, stronger than ever probably, but I only hope that he can find this same closure with his brother.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Everest
“Hey, can I come in?”
I freeze midway through putting on my sock. Whipping my head to my bedroom door, I gulp when I see Elton standing right at the open crack. I was going to head to the gym to try to clear my head, maybe come up with enough courage to approach Elton, but that doesn’t look like it’ll be needed anymore.
“Elton? Yeah, definitely. Um, sure,” I mumble, the words just pouring clumsily out of my mouth.
He walks in and closes the door behind him. Leaning back, he shoves his hands in his pockets and gives me a shaky smile. “You have a second to talk?”
My heartbeat quickens.Oh shit. It’s happening. “I have all the seconds,” I rush out. “Hours. We can talk for as long as you want. Or as little as you want. Um, we could?—”
“You don’t have to be nervous, you know? I’m your brother. I should be one of the people you’re most comfortable with.” He drops his head with a humorless chuckle and a shrug. “Although that’s probably not the case.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, not entirely sure what I’m apologizing for. For everything, I guess. Because he’s right. It shouldn’t be thisawkward to even just greet him, regardless of the conversation it’ll lead to.
