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THIRTY-NINE

RHYS

M oving out of the dorm is bittersweet but the nice thing about having brothers is they hired someone to help me. When I asked them to help me themselves, Oliver laughed and said, “Oh we won’t be doing that, but we’ll come offer moral support.”

Whatever that means.

Tobi is barely speaking to me, but some communication is better than nothing. At least I’m not blocked. The rest of the season went well, and I got through finals despite all the fucking drama.

I’m moving back home for the summer and I’m dreading it. Things have been so cold with my mother all year. I don’t know how I’m going to last all summer there. And it’s not like I can stay at Teddy’s. Even if his parents would be happy to have me, staying there will rub our relationship in Tobi’s face and crush him.

Oliver, Owen, and I end up standing around awkwardly while my room is loaded into a truck. The movers are quick and efficient, and it is a hell of a lot better than sweating bullets while doing it all by myself.

When they finish in under an hour, Teddy and Colin magically appear out of nowhere.

“What’s up, my dudes!” Teddy drapes his arm over my shoulders. “How did packing up go?”

“Quick. Are you done already too?” I ask, not sure why Teddy is even here. I expected him to take all day and planned to go help him when I finished.

“Yes, Colin brought some beefcakes to help us.”

“Guys?”

“Women too,” Teddy corrects like I’m being ignorant.

“Isn’t that usually a term reserved for?—”

Colin interrupts me, bursting out laughing. “I found a moving company called Beefcake Movers. They don’t discriminate.”

Owen rolls his eyes. “Really?”

Colin grins. “Yes, really. You left it up to me.”

“And you didn’t share? Rude.” Owen playfully glares at his husband.

“I’d prefer to not be a part of this conversation, so if we can move along to the next part of the day so I can escape this hellhole, that would be preferable.” Oliver cuts in, herding us into the elevator and outside.

“Next part?” I ask.

“Yes, I have a surprise for you and Teddy, which is why I arranged for this all to go smoother.”

“What do you mean?” I’m still lost, and Oliver doesn’t seem to want to help me out.

“Exactly what I said. I have a surprise for you and your boyfriend. Don’t get used to it, but I wanted to show my appreciation for your support and for Teddy’s moral support.”

“My morals are pretty good.” Teddy nods, self-assured.

Oliver ignores him, gesturing to a car that just pulled up. “Shall we?”

“Where are we going?” I ask as we all get into the SUV.

“Was the word surprise unclear?” Oliver asks. “I worry your boyfriend is rubbing off on you.”

“I am rubbing off on him. Sex is great.” Teddy grins like he’s not even trying to annoy Oliver.

“Down boy,” Oliver mutters, sitting as far away from Teddy as possible. “We’ve heard extensively about your relations and I can assure you we are all good.”

Colin slides in, squishing way closer to Oliver than he needs to be. “I don’t think that’s the case. We love hearing about you, Teddy.”

Owen sinks down in his seat, like he would melt into it if possible.

It’s a short drive to the West Village, where we stop in front of a lovely brick building.

Oliver throws open the door, clearly ready to get away from Colin. He steps out and slips on sunglasses that somehow make him look even more pretentious.

“What are we doing here?” I ask as I’ve been to both their homes, and this wasn’t one of them.

“I thought I’d buy you a condo as a thank you to both of you. Give you your own space for next year. I didn’t want to sign any contracts until you approve, but I do think you will like this place. It’s close to campus, and in a great location. There is a rooftop garden for your use.” Oliver takes out a key as we walk into the building.

“How do you have the key if you haven’t bought it yet?”

“My broker trusts me and I’ve already put the full amount in an escrow account, so we can close quickly if you like it.”

I blink, not sure what to say. “Uh, wow, thank you.”

“Let’s go view the condo before you thank me.” Oliver laughs.

It’s a two-bedroom, one-bath on a street that’s quieter with mature trees. It almost feels like we’ve escaped the bustle of the West Village for a moment.

I follow him into the stairway in a daze, and the place is truly lovely. He has great taste. It’s a walk up, but I think I prefer it to an elevator. The bones of the building hold on to the original charm but it’s been updated enough that it doesn’t need any major work. The floors are original hardwood, and the kitchen and living room have exposed brick. It’s small but the perfect size for us.

I turn on Oliver, still speechless.

“Do you like it?” he asks.

On a whim I give him a hug and we are quickly joined by Teddy who wraps up around us both, squeezing a little too hard.

When he releases us, Oliver shudders and smooths a hand down his shirt. “Please call off your himbo. While I understand hugs are normal for a family, I’d prefer not to be popped like a grape by the hulk.”

“I wouldn’t pop you. Mom is a science person, and she said it’s really hard to pop people.”

I just laugh. “Thank you, Oliver.”

“I can’t promise you we will always get along, but I do want what’s best for you as my brother.” It’s probably the nicest I’ve ever witnessed Oliver.

Owen wipes away a single tear. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so in touch with your feelings! I’m so proud of you.”

“You’re making me regret it,” Oliver scoffs.

Colin snaps a photo. “I have to tell Isaac about this. He’s never going to believe me.”

“Shall I buy it?” Oliver asks.

“Do you like it, Teddy?” I turn to him.

He narrows his eyes, thinking really hard. “I do like it. But it’s a little far.”

“I can arrange a car service for you like I did for Rhys. And I expect you’ll keep your dorm room as well.” Oliver has thought of everything.

Teddy nods, getting very serious. “Is this a trustworthy car?”

“What?” We all ask.

“There are some suspicious ones. I don’t want to be kidnapped.”

I don’t even bother to ask him why he thinks he’s at risk of being kidnapped and I’m not sure I want him to give his reasons in front of my brothers.

Thankfully, after Oliver recovers from his initial shock, he speaks. “I can assure you, they are very safe. I’ve been using them for a decade.”

Oliver leaves the key with me and tells me he’ll send over the paperwork tomorrow but that we can start moving in whenever we want. The movers apparently followed us over with our stuff. It’s all so sudden I’m left reeling.

Before I know it, it’s just Teddy and me and a bunch of boxes.

“I guess I don’t have to live at home this summer…” But I know I need to go home. I need to figure things out with my mother, or I’ll hate myself.

“You should. We both should. Tobi needs it.” Teddy agrees.

Part of me thinks it might be better for Tobi to not have to see us, but I don’t want to lose him.

So we get a car back home.

It feels weird using my key after I’ve avoided coming home all semester. I step into the house and only hear the low hum of the TV Mom always has on.

“Mom?” I call out.

“Rhys?” she answers from somewhere deeper in the apartment.

“Who else would it be?” I laugh and it feels a little awkward. I linger by the door, rubbing a hand over the back of my neck when she doesn’t come out right away.

After a few minutes, she comes out of her bedroom looking a little disheveled. “Hi.”

“Hi.” I toe off my shoes and then hold my arms open. “How have you been?”

“Not too bad. How was moving out?” She wraps her arms around me, pulling me in close. How did she know? Maybe because I’m home? But I don’t have boxes or anything with me like when I moved out.

“It went well. My brothers helped.” I lean into her.

She pulls back a little to look me in the eyes. “Have they made peace with you?”

“Yes. We’ve worked it out.” I brace for her reaction.

“I’m glad you have them in the absence of your father.” Her words aren’t cold, but they are curt. Maybe she doesn’t feel comfortable talking about them. We let go of each other. “Do you want me to make some tea?”

“That would be nice.”

We move into the kitchen, and I get the cups and tea box while she gets the kettle going. It boils quickly and we sit at the table making our tea in silence.

“Are you happy?” she asks at length.

I nod. “I am. It was a hard year, but it was a good one.”

She studies me. “Mrs. Ellis told me you and Teddy are dating.”

I nod, internally cringing a little. Hating that I didn’t tell her first. “We are.”

“Teddy? Not Tobi.”

I recoil. “Yes. Teddy.”

“Huh. That’s not what I expected,” she muses.

Did everyone but me and Teddy see Tobi’s feelings? Now I feel worse.

“He’s really wonderful. He helped me get through a lot this year.”

She smiles, genuinely, but it only lasts a second before a shadow comes over her. “I’m sorry I kept those things from you, and it made you feel like you couldn’t come to me. I thought I was doing what was best for you, but I do see I took away the choice from you and it’s your life. I don’t want that to happen again.”

I take a slow breath. “I don’t want it to come between us either. I know why you were jaded against Dad and his money. He lied to you for a long time and made our lives hard, but I’m not going to do that to you.”

“I don’t want your brothers to do that to you either.”

“I don’t think they will. I don’t think they are like their father.”

She nods, digesting my words. “I didn’t think your father was bad when I met him. He hid a lot from me.”

“I know. I know you didn’t know he was married or any of it, but this is different. They are my brothers, not someone I’m seeing.” I don’t want to argue this with her. Not again after how it went during the holidays.

She meets my eyes. “I know. And I know they are your choices to make. I hope they are good to you.”

“Thank you.”

“How did Tobi take you and Teddy dating?” she asks, taking the conversation in a totally different direction.

I stare into my tea mug. “Not well. I was actually going to go see him after you.”

“Be gentle with him. I’m sure he’s hurting. He’s loved you for a long time.” She reaches her hand out across the table, and I take it.

I squeeze her hand. “I will. I feel like a jackass for not seeing it.”

“It’s hard to see things we don’t want to. He’s been a good friend to you, and I hope you can fix things.”

“Me too.”

I get up to walk over to Tobi’s when there is a knock on our door. “Are you expecting someone?”

Mom shakes her head. “No.”

I walk over and pull it open to find a man I don’t know standing there. “Can I help you?”

“Rhys Godfrey?” he asks.

“Yes?”

“I have some paperwork for you to sign from Oliver Godfrey,” the man says. “Can I come in?”

“Sure.” I step aside. “We can take it to the kitchen table.”

Could Oliver have bought the property that fast? It seems impossible but I guess he does have a lot of influence.

The man pulls papers out of his briefcase, setting them on the table. “These are for this residence,” he recites our address and slides them over to me.

“Wait what?” I’m confused. “I thought it was for…” I get my phone out and pull up the address of the condo we looked at in the West Village.

“Those we’ll have to you by the end of the week. Mr. Godfrey initiated the purchase of this property months ago. It’s been in negotiations since before Christmas.” His words make me stop. “The landlord was reluctant to sell, so it took some work, but we got the deal done. If you just sign the papers, it’s all yours.”

He bought my mom’s place before Christmas?

Could this have been blackmail? Surely he would have said so at our meeting if he wanted to use it. Right?

“Before Christmas?”

“Mr. Godfrey intended for it to be a holiday gift to you, but it took some time, so he wanted to bring it to you now as we just finished it.”

I stare at him, struck speechless again.

“If you’ll just sign here.” He holds out a pen.

I sign and I’m still reeling after he leaves. I hold the paperwork not sure what to make of it.

“Why would Oliver buy my condo?” Mom asks.

“I’m guessing as a gesture of goodwill.” I guess Owen was right about Oliver.

“Can I see?”

I hand over the papers.

She flips through them. “Did you read these?”

I shake my head. “No, this is the first time I’ve seen them.”

“He didn’t just buy my apartment. He bought the building.”

“What?” I ask, sinking to a seat. “You’re kidding.”

“No, it’s the whole building.” She holds it out for me to see.

“They’re yours. You should retire.” I fight tears. That fucking bastard. Owen knew all along too, and he didn’t say a word. I knew I’d made the right decision siding with my brothers. Not that I’d doubted it, but I really knew now.

“You can’t give this to me.”

“I can. They are yours. Please retire. Enjoy your life. Dad took enough of it from you. I know that’s what Oliver would want too.”

She takes a seat at the table, still staring at the papers.

I get up and kiss her forehead. “I need to go talk to Tobi, but I’ll be back later. Okay?”

“Teddy, is Tobi here?”

“He’s in his room,” Teddy says, not looking up from his phone. He’s staring at it so intensely I’m not sure I want to ask what he’s looking at.

“I checked there.”

“His location says he’s there. I have him on alert now, so I know when he leaves.” Teddy still doesn’t look up.

“Will you pull it up again?”

“Fine!” Teddy exits out of the app and opens another. “See, right in his room.”

“Come look. He’s not there unless he found a way to hide in the walls.”

“Don’t put those thoughts in my head. I’ll never sleep again.”

I roll my eyes, and we both go to Tobi’s room.

Teddy digs around in his obviously empty bedding like he’ll find Tobi there somehow. “He’s really not here. That’s weird.”

“Isn’t it?” I walk over to his desk and find Tobi’s phone sitting there. “Teddy.”

“Yeah?”

“Would he just leave his phone?”

“He’s pretty forgetful. We can go ask Mom where he went.” Teddy gestures for me to follow him.

“Wait, what were you looking at?” I ask.

“Reddit. I was trying to work out how this guy is sucking his own dick.”

“That’s fake.”

“What?!” he yells.

“What?” I ask, not sure why he’s freaking out.

“You told me the porn on Reddit wasn’t all photoshopped like I thought it was so I’ve been trying to figure this out for three hours.”

I cover my mouth with a hand, trying not to laugh.

“Why are you laughing?!”

“Sorry, Teddy Bear. I should have said most of the porn on Reddit isn’t photoshopped.”

He throws his hands up in the air. “I’ve wasted half a day on this trying to figure it out to show you.”

I feel a little bad, but I also cannot stop laughing. I give Tobi’s phone another glance and we go to find their mom to ask if she knows where Tobi is.