Page 11 of Dirty Martini
Elton doesn’t let himself stay sad for long. He forces a smile on his lips, one I know is fake because I know him well enough, and nods. “Oh, totally! We can just eat something at home!”
Everest is already speed-walking back to his Jeep before Elton can even finish his sentence. Elton and I walk back to the truck, and I shoot him a look when he rounds the corner to join me at the driver’s side.
“What are you—” Elton practically slams me against the side of the truck. Like, he’s way too physically close, a look of panic on his face. “What the hell?”
“He’s not okay, Rhys.”
Four words I’m not supposed to give a shit about. Regardless, I entertain him as I push him away. “He seemed fine to me.”
“Thatwas fine?” He scoffs and shakes his head as he throws his hands in the air. “Nah, man. Something is going on with him. Were you even paying attention?”
I quirk an eyebrow. “Was I supposed to be?”
“Take this seriously!” Elton yells, and I actually rear my head back at the intensity in his voice. When he notices my reaction, he sighs and shakes his head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scream, it’s just… He’s not okay. Something is going on with him.”
“How can you even tell that from one interaction?” I argue.
“Because he’s my brother,” he explains simply. He drops his head into his hands and leans against the truck beside me. After a moment of silence, he speaks, but it’s barely a whisper. “He barely hugged me back, dude.”
My jaw clenches so tightly I swear I can hear my teeth grinding. While I know Elton is trying to make me just as worried as he is, he’s only serving to piss me off. Could Everest not even trudge up a hint of excitement at seeing his brother? Now that he’s pointed it out, I hate to admit that sure—okay—I guess I was paying the tiniest bit of attention. I can sort of see where he’s coming from. That casual and relaxed air Everest used to carry around was gone. He was all stiff and robotic, barely making conversation as we packed up his room. He didn’t provide anything of substance, just one-word answers that I tried to dismiss, but that Elton obviously latched onto.
When I turn to sneak a glance at my best friend, my gut churns. He’s staring out at the distance, eyebrows drawn together and lips set in a pout. “It’s going to be okay. It’s no secret the two of you have grown apart, so he’s probably just nervous about rebuilding that relationship with you.”
Elton, the stubborn fucker he is, keeps sulking. “You really think so?”
“I know so,” I lie. I have no idea what he thinks is going on with Everest. And, since I’m actively trying not to care, I don’t want to know either. But Elton’s my best friend. My platonic ride-or-die, and I hate seeing him this way. “Just give it some time.”
“You know patience isn’t my best quality.”
“When we first started living together, you used to wake me up at five in the morning because you didn’t like being awake by yourself. Trust me. I know.”
He chuckles at this, finally turning to look at me, but it’s not entirely lighthearted. “You have to help me, Rhys.”
I nod. “You know I’d do anything for you, man.”
“I’m going to be away for months, and I can’t stand the idea of Everest not being okay while I’m gone.” His jaw sets in determination, green eyes more stern than I’ve ever seen them. “You have to look out for him.”
I roll my eyes. “I already agreed to?—”
“No, I know. But I don’t think you get what I’m saying. I think he needs someone right now and that has to be you. Promise me you’ll be that person for him while I’m gone.”
I shake my head, dread pooling in my gut. “I barely know the guy anymore. I wouldn’t even?—”
“Promise me, Rhys.”
Elton takes his promises seriously. I know he’s holding himself back from making us do a pinkie swear for good measure. But what he’s asking is too much. It’s one thing to make sure Everest is still in one piece and breathing when he comes back from Europe, but being his person? I wouldn’t even know where to start.
“Why are you hesitating?”
I ignore his snarky question and finally let myself be brought back to the past I’ve tried to push through and overcome. It fills me with a rage I’d like to think is uncharacteristic of me, making my gut twist unpleasantly.
Elton doesn’t know any of this. Maybe I should have told him and tried to clear my name. He never believed the drugs were mine, but I’ve kept my mouth shut about the truth. Why? Because while I detest Everest for everything he is and everything he’s done, Eltonadoreshim. I know that if I said anything, it would have ruined their relationship. Fuck, it basically is now, but that isn’t my fault. I wasn’t going to be the reason my favorite person lost his relationship with his brother.It’s out of my love and loyalty for my best friend that I’ve kept Everest’s secret, not any sort of misguided affection I still have for him.
Everest ruined my life.
Because I was caught withhisdrugs, my future was permanently fucked. I was left to suffer someone else's consequences. I was dealt a hand I wasn’t prepared for. Sure, I took my GED, but it was a waste of time. I could have my mechanical engineering degree by now, going off to start graduate school like I always planned. Instead, I’m a bartender with no prospects besides seeing how many mojitos I can make in under five minutes.
Life fucked me over, life willalwaysfuck you over, and there’s no point in trying anymore. It’s all a waste.
