Page 34

THIRTY-FOUR

RHYS

I ’m just starting to feel good about things. Teddy and I are great. He’s better with his team. I’m playing well. School is going well. My relationship with my brothers is going okay. Better with Owen than Oliver, but I’ll take it. So it was about time for the other shoe to drop.

Tobi: Let me guess you’re busy.

Tobi: Sometimes I don’t know why I bother.

I feel like a jackass. But the truth is I don’t even see Teddy as much as I want.

Rhys: I’m free for dinner if you want to meet me over here.

Tobi: Don’t you have team stuff?

I can hear the sneer in his message.

Rhys: I can skip the team dinner.

Tobi: Are you sure? Your team comes first.

I’m trying to offer an olive branch here, but he doesn’t seem to want to take it. It sucks to feel like I can’t manage all of the things in my life. Like I’m juggling too many balls and one of them is always going to be dropped.

How does anyone have enough time for college, hockey, friends, a boyfriend, and family?

I’ve been ignoring texts from my mother for the last month too. She’ll probably send the police for a welfare check any day now if I don’t reply. But I just don’t know what to say anymore.

Rhys: If you don’t want to see me. Just say that.

Tobi: What time?

We decide on a time, and I feel a little bit better. I don’t want to lose my best friend, but I don’t know how to keep him. He’s going to find out about Teddy eventually and then all of this will be for nothing. He’s never going to forgive me.

He shows up for dinner and I scan him into the cafeteria. We get our food in silence and then sit without saying a word.

It’s awkward as fuck.

Not The Enemy: Is Tobi mad at me?

Double Stuffed: is Tobi mad at u?

Not The Enemy: that’s what I just asked.

Double Stuffed: i’ asking 2.

I don’t know why I even tried. I stifle a laugh so Tobi doesn’t ask.

“What’s so amusing under the table?” Tobi asks.

Fail.

I click my phone screen off and put it on the table. “My brothers.”

“So that’s going well?”

I lift my shoulders. “Better I guess. I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“Do you think they’re using you?”

I stab my chicken breast. “I hope not. Owen seems genuine. But I never know with Oliver. Everything he does is calculated but Owen says he only does stuff he believes is for our own good.”

“That has to be exhausting.”

“It is. All of it is. I feel so emotionally overwhelmed the last few months.” I sneak a glance at Tobi, wondering if he cares.

He lifts his gaze to meet mine, brows pulled but I can’t read him. “Maybe you’re taking on too much.”

“What do you suggest I drop?”

“Maybe you shouldn’t be putting so much energy into your brothers.” He shrugs like it doesn’t matter, but I know it does. “They aren’t the ones who’ve been here for you.”

I search his face, at a loss for words.

We fall back into silence.

I move my chicken breast around my plate, so fucking sick of protein and rice.

“Why do you care so much?” Tobi asks after a while.

“What about?”

“Them? Their approval? I thought you didn’t care?”

I rub my face. “I don’t know.”

I really don’t. The only thing that feels stable is Teddy. My chest warms at the thought of how amazing he is. He’s so easy to be with and always there when I need him.

I’m falling for him and hard.

With everything else in my life out of control, I need Teddy.

But will that mean trading my best friend for him?

My phone rings and I pick it up discretely in case it’s Teddy calling. I don’t want to have to explain that to Tobi.

But it’s not. It’s Owen.

He hates the phone more than he hates this mortal coil so if he’s calling me, it can’t be good.

“Hello?” I answer, holding a finger up to Tobi.

“I don’t want to say too much on the phone. But Oliver and I need to speak with you at your earliest convenience. Which means right now, I’m just trying to be polite. Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

“What about?”

“I’ll tell you when I get there. Where are you?” Owen sounds cold and clinical.

“Did someone die?” I ask.

“No.”

“I’m at the Gods’ cafeteria in the main building,” I reply.

“I’ll be there in fifteen.”

I hang up and Tobi seems pissed. “That was Owen. There is some sort of emergency he needs me for.”

“What kind of emergency?” Tobi asks.

“I have no idea. It sounded urgent.”

“But he said no one died.” Tobi narrows his eyes.

“No.” I’m just as lost as he is, but Tobi seems suspicious of me.

“Is this one of those calls you use to try and get out of a date?” Tobi throws at me.

I’m caught totally off guard by the accusation. “What? I’m not fucking having my brother fake an emergency. That’s really fucking low to accuse me of. I don’t know what your problem is with me but I’m over it.” My chest aches as I say it, but I can’t just pretend it’s not happening anymore. I shove to my feet.

“Rhys…”

I hold up a hand. “Figure your shit out and either tell me or leave me alone. I can’t help how much I have going on and, before the last few months, I would have sworn my best friend would be by my side for all of it, but now it feels like you’ll only be here if it benefits you in some way.”

“That’s—that’s not what I—” Tobi cuts himself off with a sigh.

I pick up my tray. “Then what the fuck is it?”

“I’m in love with you, Rhys, and I feel like I’m losing you.” Sadness is etched into all his features.

And what the fuck can I even say? I feel like a bomb just went off in my head, I’m that surprised.

I never once suspected….but it all makes sense.

“You don’t have to say anything. I’m sorry I did.” He picks his tray up and walks towards the disposal.

“Tobi.” I grab mine and walk after him.

“Please don’t. I saw enough in your face. You don’t feel the same way.” He’s barely keeping it together.

“I care about you Tobi?—“

He cuts me off. “I know. But you don’t feel the same.”

We throw our trays away and stand there in silence again.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out but don’t answer.

“Go. I know it’s important,” he says.

“But—” I try, but Tobi won’t hear any of it.

“I’ll see you later. I might need some space for a while.” And he’s gone.

I’m left there reeling, phone ringing, and not sure if I should be chasing him or going with my brothers.

But that’s decided for me.

Owen walks in and grabs me before I notice him. “Are you okay?”

I blink. “Yeah, sorry. What’s up?”

“Get in the car and I’ll tell you.”