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ELEVEN

RHYS

“ W hat is all this for?” Teddy leans over with his not whisper in the middle of the dedication.

“My father donated the money to build the building so they are dedicating it to him.”

“What is dedicating?”

I close one eye, trying to think of the best way to explain it. “I guess it’s just celebrating him for giving the school money.”

“Rich people are weird.”

“Ain’t that the truth.” I lean back in my chair, not letting myself look over at my brothers.

“So, is this all it is?”

“No, there is a cocktail party after.”

“I don’t like cocktails.” Teddy wrinkles his nose, but the ick doesn’t stop with his expression. It seems to take over his whole body in an aggressive shake.

“What was that?”

“My body rejecting a cocktail. It’s very particular.”

“Teddy, I’ve seen you drink.”

“Drinks are different.”

“You drink vodka orange juice all the time,” I say confused.

Is he somehow misunderstanding me?

“Yeah, that’s not a cocktail,” he says it so emphatically that I want to believe him.

The golden retriever energy really is endearing.

I hate myself a little for liking it as much as I do. “Cocktails are mixed drinks.”

“No! They are cocktails.” He draws out the word like it’s going to get his point across.

“What’s in a cocktail?” I ask. Maybe he had one and thought only that drink was a cocktail.

“Grossness.”

“That really narrows it down.” I laugh because, honestly, his antics are growing on me. Which probably means I’m losing it, but oh well. At least I’ll have fun on the way to my mental health break.

“It’s like gin, and vegetation that made my mouth all dry.”

“Vegetation? Like vegetables?” I really can’t picture what he’s describing.

“No, it’s nothing like vegetables. It’s really dry.”

“Vermouth?”

“No, that doesn’t sound right.” He shakes his head.

“What else is in it?” I’m pretty sure he’s talking about a martini, but it could be anything.

“Olives, and a cocktail is always in those glasses shaped like a vagina.”

I blink at him. “What glass is shaped like a vagina?”

He looks at me like I’m the idiot and then pulls out his phone. I really hope he’s not searching for a vagina shaped glass, but I guess me and everyone around us is about to find out with his bright ass phone and his whisper yelling.

He turns it around to show a perfectly normal martini glass. “See, vagina.”

I look at the phone and then him. “How is this shaped like a vagina?”

He sighs dramatically. “See, the glass part is the V between a girl’s legs, and the handle is her legs.” He points to the stem. “Then the bottom here is her feet.”

I put a hand over my mouth and just laugh.

“What’s so funny?!” he asks as everyone stands up around us.

“Nothing. We’ll skip cocktails and get you a regular drink.” I pat his cheek as I stand.

“Free drinks. Nice.” He bounds after me, happy in his glitter Crocs.

“You wait here. I’ll order,” I say, not wanting him to even think he hears the word cocktail. I make sure the bartender doesn’t put it in a martini glass, getting him a very safe fruity drink. It’s bright pink. I walk it back and his eyes light up. “Good?”

“Yes!” He makes grabby hands at the drink. I hand it over and he tastes his drink, moaning. “Is that passionfruit?”

I’m honestly a little shocked he knows what passionfruit tastes like, but I keep that to myself. “You going to be making that sound later in the car?”

“Not in front of the driver!” He gets a little bashful which makes me half hard.

I might have to explore that later. “Are you shy?”

He half shrugs. “No, but I like to keep that stuff private.”

Why is he so fucking cute? Fuck. I have it bad. I chug my glass, needing to dull myself a little bit so I don’t make any more bad decisions.

“Why is it so boring?” he asks, looking around.

“Rich people are boring,” I say, not knowing that for sure, but all the stuff I’ve had to do with them makes me believe it’s the case.

“That tracks. Do you think they like this kind of stuff or just do it because it’s fancy.”

“They probably hate it. Maybe that’s why so many of them are miserable.”

Teddy’s face changes like something is dawning on him. “That makes a whole lot of sense.”

“It really does.”

“Why does your brother not like you?” he asks, smacking his lips. “Let’s get a refill.”

We go back to the bar, and I slide a ten across the bar. “Can you make him the pink one again?”

The bartender nods, taking the money. “Sure thing.”

We get our drinks and retreat to a quiet corner.

“Are there horse derves?” Teddy asks and I nearly spit my drink all over his glitter Crocs.

“Hors d’oeuvres?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Maybe?” I glance around. “I don’t see anything yet.”

“They can’t just hold us hostage at a place like this without giving us snackies!”

“They aren’t holding us hostage.” I laugh again. What has gotten into me?

“It feels a little like they are and I know how hangry you get.”

“I do not.”

He side-eyes me as he sips. “Okay. Gonna tell me about your brothers now?”

“I don’t think we need to talk about it.”

“I think we do,” Teddy insists.

“Why?”

“Because maybe I can help you fix it.”

I don’t want to ruin the light he’s got in his eyes, so I sigh and try to explain. “I think because their dad had an affair with my mom and made me. Maybe because I got part of their inheritance, though, it’s more money than anyone needs. Could also be because I’m not like them.”

“That all seems silly. I don’t think Owen dislikes you. Just that Oliver one.”

I shrug, wishing that was the case. “He’ll probably side with his brother.”

“You’re his brother too.”

“It’s not the same as being twins.”

“Ew, not all twins sleep together, Rhys. That’s a stereotype.” Teddy says in a shaming tone.

I stare at him. “I didn’t think—is that a stereotype?”

“It is. A harmful one to twins!”

I nod, trying to be serious. “Good to know. But I still don’t think they’ll side with us.”

“Let me work my magic.”

“Magic? No. Don’t do that.” I grab his arm.

He turns on me, putting his hand over mine on his arm. “Don’t worry. What could go wrong?”

“A fucking lot!” I say, but Teddy isn’t listening. He’s strolling off towards the group of them.

I have to jog to catch up with him. That damn sport mode of his. I miss the first part of the conversation, but by the time I catch up with Teddy, he and Colin are laughing.

“I think dinner to clear the air would be good,” Colin says.

“I thought so.” Teddy holds out his fist.

Colin bumps it. “Owen, baby. Let’s invite them to a family dinner in a few weeks. What do you think?”

Owen narrows his eyes a little bit like he’s in a daze. “Fuck it. I forgot to take my meds today. Everything seems like a good idea.”

Colin glares at his husband. “Baby! Why didn’t you take them?”

“Well, I was rotting under my chase lounge and frankly the kitchen might as well have been Dubai and my intrusive thoughts told me I should just stay there until I had to come here so… that’s what I did,” Owen says it all without shame, and you know, good for him.

We’ve all had those thoughts.

Colin pulls something out of his inside pocket before dumping pills into his hand. “Good thing I carry an emergency stash.”

Owen grumbles but throws them in his mouth, washing them down with his drink.

“Still okay with dinner?” Colin asks.

“The pills don’t work in five seconds and I’m not sure if they’d tell me it was a bad idea anyway. Why would I deprive you of that joy?” Owen says with a slight smile.

“Just more reasons to love you.” Colin kisses Owen hard before turning to Teddy. “I’ll call you with a date.”

“We will be there,” Teddy says before I can object.