Page 35 of A Matter of Fact

“Does that mean we aren’t friends?” He moved to face Sebastian, but Jace was back, brushing past them toward the front door.

“Come on.”

Sebastian moved first and Rhys trailed behind, joining Jace at a small black table just outside the front door. Jace set the timer down in front of him and spun it to face the two empty chairs.

“This is how long I have,” Jace said, folding his arms over his chest.

Rhys wanted the earth to swallow him whole, but he knew he didn’t have that kind of luck. He and Sebastian sat down, and Rhys glanced at the timer. He had nine minutes.

“Uhm.” He smoothed his hands down the front of his khakis. “First off, I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“A lot of things, probably. But specifically for what I said to you in Mallardsville.”

“What part?” Jace tilted his head to the side, in challenge. “Or you know what? Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”

“It does.”

“It really doesn’t, Rhys.” Jace settled in his chair. “You said what you said. You are who you are. Apology accepted for what it is.”

Jesus, what was it with Sebastian and his friends and the way they made Rhys hate himself even more than he already did? He hadn’t always felt that way, but the feeling had absolutely started to develop and fester since he’d come to Myers Bluff.

“I appreciate you taking the time to help me,” he said, trying to not linger on the sharpness of Jace’s words or all of the insinuation that lurked below the surface.

“That’s what Sebastian said.”

Rhys picked at the cuticle on his ring finger with the edge of his thumbnail. “I’m seeing someone.”

“Shocking,” Jace mumbled.

“Believe me, I’m the first in line to agree with you. But I like him, I think.”

“That’s a good start.” Jace leaned back in his seat, and Rhys checked the timer.

“I’m taking him on a date tomorrow, but I can only spend a hundred dollars.”

“Your shoes cost more than that,” Jace said.

“How did you…”

Jace sighed and turned his attention to Sebastian. “Am I the poorest person you know?”

“Rich in heart,” Sebastian teased.

“I just don’t know what to do,” Rhys said.

“If there wasn’t a limit, what would you do?” Jace turned back to him.

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Take him to a nice dinner? Drink some expensive wine.”

“That’s hardly trying.”

“What would you have me do, Jace? Fly him to Greece for some fresh gyros?”

Jace rolled his eyes and smirked. “You would do that, wouldn’t you?”

“It doesn’t matter, because I can’t. At least, not tomorrow.”