Page 92 of Dirty Martini
I don’t know how much of what I’m saying really registers with him. Even though he nods, it’s not convincing, and I can tell that fear is taking over. “I think I’m going to head over to Knox’s. I need some space too.”
My heart cracks as I drop my hands. “From me?”
“No, from the situation,” he rushes out, eyes wide as he takes my hands. “It’s not you, Rhys. I just can’t be here.”
Although I hate the fact that he wants to run off to Knox, I understand. Knox is his friend, and I think Everest just needs to not be here around Elton. Somewhere he can think and reflect and calm down. While I want to go with him, he needs some time to digest what just happened on his own, just like I should.
“Okay,” I whisper. Kissing the top of his head, I wrap my arms around his shoulders and bring him into a tight hug. “He’ll come around. I promise.”
But even as I say the words, I don’t know how true they are.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Rhys
I take a deep breath.
I can do this. I’ve never been nervous talking to Elton, and I’m not about to start now.
I don’t even bother knocking—we’re those types of friends—and step right into his room. He’s sitting in his oversized fluffy beanbag chair, a controller in hand as he angrily pushes on the buttons. The look on his face lets me know that he’s not doing too well.Great.
Skipping the polite bullshit chit-chat, I head straight to the point. I walk in and stand in front of his television, arms crossed as I stare him down. “We need to talk.”
“Go away, Rhys,” he growls, craning his neck to look around my body. “I’m not talking to you.”
I scoff as I roll my eyes. “You’re being childish.”
This gets to him. He throws his controller on the floor, jumping to his feet. “Don’t I have the right? You and my brother arefucking. How did you expect me to react? Or were you even planning on telling me at all?”
“Of course we were,” I tell him as I hold out my hands placatingly. “We just weren’t ready yet.”
“Because you knew it was wrong,” he challenges.
“There’snothingwrong about Everest and me being together,” I snap, growing defensive and—honestly—a tad bit hostile. “You’re my best friend, but imply that one more time, and I’m going to hit you.”
He narrows his eyes, almost like he’s ready to bite back, but he smartly shuts his mouth. After a second, he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I just don’t get it.”
I nod and gesture for him to sit back down. “So let’s talk.”
Hesitating, he looks at me cautiously before settling back down in the beanbag chair. He props his elbows on his knees, clapping his hands in front of him. “When I left, the two of you weren’t even speaking. I half thought you didn’t even like Everest. Now I come back, and he’s got your dick in his mouth and you’re apparently in love with him?—”
I stop him right there. We’re not going to play this game. I want there to be zero misunderstanding between us. “Iamin love with him. There’s no apparently there. I love Everest.”
He blinks at me, opening and closing his mouth as he shakes his head. “I just don’t get how this happened.”
“Trust me, I didn’t see it coming either. Everest and I have history. He…” I trail off, shrugging in place of words as I bite my tongue. “You know what, it’s not my place to share that part.”
He doesn’t look at all pleased by that. The way he’s taking deep, even breaths lets me know that he’s trying his hardest to stay calm and reasonable and lock down all the frustration he’s experiencing. “So what can you tell me?”
This is easy enough. When I pictured telling Elton about Everest and me, this is what I wanted. I didn’t want to have to explain myself or justify my decisions. I wanted to just talk about the good—the incredible—and that’s it. Now that I have a chance to gush about my guy, I’m not going to waste it.
“I can tell you how incredible he is,” I start, a dopey smile on my face as I sit on the beanbag next to him. “How he makesme want to be a better person. How with him, I feel like I can accomplish anything.”
“You crossed a line,” he states, leveling me with a clenched jaw. “I trusted you with him.”
“And I’m sorry you feel that way, but I don’t think I did anything wrong.” I take a mental step back from the conversation. I know Elton practically better than he knows himself. He’s too resistant. When I told Everest that everything would be okay, I meant it, but Elton’s being particularly difficult. “What’s the hangup, Elt?”
It takes him a moment to answer. He looks so hesitant, like he really doesn’t want to say what he’s thinking, but what’s new? Elton’s always been one to push unpleasant shit under the rug. It’s his M.O. But I’m not letting him off easily this time. We’re talking about this, no matter how uncomfortable it makes him. I don’t need to say anything to have him understand that I’m not budging. He glares at me, petulant that he’s being forced tofeel, but still, he opens up.
