Page 10

TEN

TEDDY

I n my fancy tux shirt and jeans, I grab my Crocs, but Rhys takes them. “No. You have to wear actual shoes.”

“These are real shoes!”

He takes them and steps away. “I swear to fuck I will throw these in a trash compactor.”

“You’re right, I’ll wear my fancy ones.”

He groans. “Fancy ones? What the hell does that mean?”

My phone screams in my pocket but I figure it’s Tobi telling me how I’m the best brother ever for helping out his friend. The guilt tries to creep in. Did I want to help out Tobi? I mean, kind of, but I’m more so doing it so I can spend time with Rhys…

I dig in my closet for a minute and find the black crocks covered in green glitter.

He stares, obviously struck by their beauty. “What the fuck are those?!”

“They’re my fancy Crocs.” I slide them on while he’s admiring their amazingness. “I only wear them for special occasions.”

“Do you see what I’m wearing?” Rhys holds his arms away from his body so I can get a good look. A look I’ve been trying really hard not to have.

“I see you looking like sex on a stick, so unless you want me to walk through the building with a hard-on, I suggest you stop pointing it out.” I pose so he can get a better look at them. “We look so hot together.”

Rhys pinches the bridge of his nose again with a loud sigh. After tossing my purple Crocs to the side, he puts his hands on his hips and stares at me.

God, he’s hot.

My phone screams again so I pull it from my pocket to see what my brother wants.

Party Pooper: You do realize I was going with Rhys as his DATE right?

Party Pooper: You really think you can pretend to be his date while you do nothing but argue?

Date? Are Rhys and Tobi dating? Does Rhys kiss Tobi like he kisses me? Is that why he didn’t fight me on keeping this under wraps?

There’s no way. Rhys is a good friend and he wouldn’t have put his dick in my mouth if he loved Tobi.

“Do you really think you are dressed like I am?” He sucks in a deep breath like he’s trying to calm himself. “This is a public event that will have reporters. It’s the first time I’m being seen with my brothers. Publicly.”

“Okay?” I ask, not sure what he’s getting at.

“Fuck it.” He turns opening the door to my room. “Let’s just go before I second guess myself.”

“What are you second guessing?”

Is he second guessing taking me as his date, not just as moral support?

I take the stairs two at a time because my Crocs are in sport mode.

“Just get in the damn car.” He’s silent for the ride, which feels weird, but if he’s jealous of my Crocs, I can send him the link to buy his own.

I’m An Olympian Bitch: date? like boyfriends?

Party Pooper: Yes!

I chew on the inside of my cheek. Crap on a cracker. Do I need to pretend to be his boyfriend? Is that what he expects from me? People will see us. Can I risk this getting back to the boys?

We’ve been in the car for about ten minutes when he finally says, “You have to own a suit.”

“Of course I do.”

“Why didn’t you put it on?”

“Because that’s for hockey.”

My phone rings, filling the car with a loud “Neeeeerd!”

I dig it out of my jeans, which are stiff and uncomfortable, and answer Tobi’s call on speaker. “Sup bro-seph?”

“Turn on your camera,” Tobi’s croaky voice demands.

Rhys leans toward my phone and says, “You have the worst timing!”

“It’s not like I planned this!”

Rhys snatches the phone from me. “Do you know what he’s wearing?”

“No, but I can imagine…” Tobi sighs. “Send me a picture.”

Rhys gets his phone and snaps a few pictures and sends them.

A disgusted groan fills the car as the car pulls to a stop in front of a new building with a bunch of people wandering around.

“This is your fault!” Rhys snaps and ends the call, shoving my phone into my chest.

“That was rude. You didn’t even say bye.”

“I swear to fuck—” Rhys is cut off by the door opening and him climbing out.

I slide out after him and take a look around. We’re on the New York Gods campus, which makes me itchy. And hard weirdly. Stupid jersey fantasy.

Some new building with the inscription Godfrey School of Business on the front is roped off and there are chairs set up with an aisle down the middle.

Wow. I wonder if he knows he shares the name of this building? What a cool coincidence.

We walk up the steps and it’s all roped off and filled with people dressed all fancy. There’s something special going on, but I don’t really understand what. What a building dedication means, I have not a clue, but apparently it’s a big deal.

Rhys takes a deep breath, straightens his shoulders, and enters the ceremony space.

We walk up the aisle that’s covered in a dark blue fabric with silvery details on the edges and the school’s helmet logo in the middle of it. I kinda want to piss on it but I don’t want to be arrested today, so I won’t.

As we pass the rows and rows of white folding chairs, I notice two men who look identical watching him. They seem like they could be related to Rhys, so maybe those are his brothers? They’re tall and lean but look deadly. Both of them have another man by their sides. One has wavy brown hair that looks messy but on purpose, and the other has curly blond hair that looks soft. All four are wearing suits and are now watching the man I’m following.

The man I’m supposed to be fake dating?

Rhys’ hand clenches into a fist, so I reach for it and force my fingers between his.

His head snaps toward me, and he stops moving. “What are you doing?”

Is this a trick question?

“Supporting you?” My duh is implied.

“How is holding my hand supportive?” He lifts our hands between us like I didn’t know what hand holding is.

“It’s a reminder you aren’t alone? And if you’re mad or whatever, you can squeeze it.” I don’t know how he missed these simple childhood concepts.

He groans. “Why are you adorable sometimes?”

I shrug. “Just comes to me naturally.”

“Why am I doing this?”

I glance over at him. “Are we in the wrong place?”

“No, it’s just—a lot.” Rhys moves again, this time pulling me along with him until we’re standing in front of the little group.

There is a man with curly blond hair who wears a big grin on his face that lights up his eyes. We’ll be friends, I can tell. The dark-haired men have straight faces that I can’t read at all, and the last man is holding onto one twin’s arm and trying not to smile. I might be friends with him too. They are my type of peeps.

“Hi, I’m Colin.” Curly blond holds his hand out to me to shake, which I do.

“Hi Colin, I’m Teddy.”

“Of course you are,” he says with delight and the twin closest to him gives him a look, but the smile doesn’t fall from his face. “Nice to see you again, Rhys.” He offers his hand to Rhys, who shakes it.

“Nice to see you.” Rhys smiles, but I can tell he’s forcing it.

I lean over and whisper. “He’s a good one.”

“Everyone can hear you,” Rhys says with a sigh.

“No, they can’t. I’m whispering.”

“They really can.” He holds back a laugh and turns to Colin. “Can you hear him whispering?”

“Sure can,” Colin says, delighted.

“But I’m whispering!” I whisper-yell.

“Now you’re just yelling,” Rhys says, but he seems to have cheered up some, so I’m going to call it a win.

“Is this what I’m to be subjected to?” The first twin says.

I already don’t like him.

“He seems like a delight, Oliver,” Colin replies. “I think we’re going to be friends.”

“Owen, please keep your husband in check. We don’t socialize with the enemy.”

“Who’s the enemy?” I ask, looking around.

“I don’t tell my husband what to do,” Owen replies and Colin snickers.

No one speaks again. It’s awkward.

I don’t like awkward. It makes me start talking. “So, brothers, huh? Wild. Must be pretty fucked to find out you have a bonus brother.”

Colin stifles a laugh and steps forward. “Teddy, why don’t you, me, and Isaac here—” he points to the wavy hair guy “—grab seats while they have a chat?”

I look at Rhys, and he gives me a little nod and squeezes my hand. I hold on a second longer but hide my smile as I turn away. That seems boyfriend-y. Am I doing this right?

Colin leads us to a few seats with reserved signs and sits. “So, tell us all about you.”

He crosses one knee over the other and leans on it.

“Well, I play hockey, but I shouldn’t say where.” I don’t want to start a war or anything. That would be embarrassing.

“Hockey?” Isaac says, looking over me. “I like your shoes.”

“Thanks! These are my fancy Crocs. I don’t wear them very often cause if I bend my foot wrong, it’ll make the glitter crack and peel.” I had a gold pair that did that. It was so disappointing.

“Oh, good to know.” Isaac reaches for his tie with a grimace and loosens it. “I can’t believe he made me wear this stupid thing.”

“Take it off so he’ll hate-fuck you later,” Colin butts in. “Do you play for a school?”

“Uh yeah…” I look around, then lean in so I can whisper it. “Summerset.”

“Ah, got it.” Colin looks over at the trio and plays with a ring he has on his finger. “And you’re with Rhys?”

Unease tightens my gut. I don’t know how to answer that. Tobi is better at this than I am. I’ve been told more times than I can count that I can’t read the room, whatever that means. Am I supposed to say yes? Pretend we’re dating or is Rhys’ plan different now that I’m here instead of Tobi?

Gah. I hate this. Thinking is hard. I don’t want to say the wrong thing and fuck this up for Rhys.

“It was my duty.”

The small man cocks his head and looks confused. “I don’t think I follow.”

I open my mouth to explain but get cut off when the brothers move toward us.

“Isaac.”

The man in question freezes with his eyes wide and his hands on his tie. I think he stops breathing.

“But…” Isaac starts, but the one who said his name gives him a look that even I can tell means trouble.

That same twin drags his eyes over me, taking in everything, like he has x-ray vision or something.

Can he see my underwear? It’s intense.

“I see your taste is as refined as my brother’s.” Who is he talking to?

Me?

Colin rolls his eyes. “Do try to behave, Oliver. We’re in public.”

I turn to Colin. “How can you tell them apart?”

“Attitude mostly. And Oliver will break out in hives if he gets within three feet of me.” He bats his eyes up at the one he called Oliver, then blows a kiss to the other one.

“Huh?”

“Owen is married to Colin,” Isaac points as he explains. “Colin lives to rile up Oliver, who is my husband.”

“Do you guys switch sometimes?” I ask.

“Switch?” Isaac asks.

“Like husbands. Don’t all twins do that?” I would if I were a twin. Sounds fun.

Isaac’s cheeks get red and he mutters, “No.”

Colin breaks out laughing. “Can you imagine?”

“I would rather die,” Oliver says with disdain, giving me a once over. “Why—” Oliver starts.

Owen interrupts him. “Don’t.”

“He’s wearing Crocs!” Oliver says exasperated. “And they can’t possibly still make tuxedo shirts. It has to be twenty years old!”

“It’s fine,” Owen sighs.

“I can’t believe you invited him to this only for him to bring a date and embarrass us. I told you how this would go.” Oliver doesn’t seem too happy.

“It would be weird if he wasn’t here. You know that.”

“Both options are terrible optics,” Oliver says through his teeth and he looks a little like a shark. And not a sexy shark. A mean shark.

“You made me wear a tie,” Isaac butts into the twin’s argument. “He’s wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I’m taking this off.”

Oliver leans over Isaac and says something I can’t hear but it makes his cheeks turn bright pink and he sucks in a breath.

“It was my dad’s from the late nineteen hundreds. I think he wore it to his bachelor party?” I say, but turn to Isaac, concerned with how he’s watching Oliver. “Are you okay?”

Rhys mutters something and pinches the bridge of his nose again. He’s going to give himself a bruise if he doesn’t stop doing that.

Isaac’s face flames even darker.

Colin starts to cackle. “I promise you, he’s fine.”

Oliver points to me but looks at Owen. “If you are going to invite them to things, you are in charge of making sure they don’t create a scene. You know what is at stake.”

Owen mouths, “I know.”

“That’s enough.” Rhys pushes Oliver out of the way and grabs my hand, pulling me up and moving us down a few seats. “Fucking dickbag,” he mutters under his breath.

He sits, still holding my hand, and pulls it into his lap once I’m settled. Does he realize he’s doing it or does he need the comfort? It shouldn’t make bumble bees fly in my stomach, but it does.

Shame follows right behind it, twisting the soft flutters into spikes.