Chapter 10

Rhyn sat across the table from Ryan as Rhys and Myles talked. He'd been dragged out of the house by Rhys to meet his friends at the local pizza parlor. He hadn't been sure why, but he liked pizza so he would sit back and see what would happen.

He'd found the almost empty bourbon bottle in his bedroom and realized what he'd done. He had to do an inventory of his body to make sure he didn't screw up again. Luckily, there were no marks or anything. He vaguely remembered Myles coming into his room, but nothing else struck his memory.

He'd spent a couple of days just lounging in his room. Rhys had practice and Rhyd was still gone. He checked in every now and then, but no one really talked to him. Their mom called him daily, but he rarely answered.

By day five, his mother was begging Rhyn to go out. She said he couldn't always stay home. She wanted him to have friends, but Rhyn was picky. He'd never had a good friend since his high school friend had moved to California to go to Berkeley. He just never ever bothered to find a new one.

Somewhere in all of that, Rhys had figured he would take matters into his own hands. So what did he do? He kidnapped Rhyn. he dragged him from his room to the car so quickly Rhyn barely had time to say anything. He ever forgot his phone, not that it really mattered. No one ever called him.

The three basketball players lamented their choice to play their senior year. They wanted to play, but it cut into their free time. They had to schedule time to hang out and study.

Sometimes the last one fell by the wayside. Rhyn had helped them study multiple times.

Ryan Hodges made up the trio. He'd been Rhys's closest friend in high school. When they'd graduated, they'd drifted about as far apart as Rhyn and his friend had. But Ryan had tried out for the team as a walk-on their sophomore year. He'd reconnected with Rhys and had met Myles. The trio had been cemented then.

Now they were sought after. They were invited to every party, even the lower ranked ones. No matter where they went, people followed. A small party became a huge one when they arrived. Whoever threw it was instantly a celebrity for a time. At least until the next party they showed up at.

As it was, they were getting looks from several girls sitting next to them. Rhyn could they were trying to get up the course to talk to them. It wouldn't work. Rhys liked to play around, Myles as picky as hell, and Ryan had been dating someone. Rhyn would rather be at home than out so they wouldn't have a chance with him either.

Sharp pain lanced up his shin, and he looked up. Myles looked at him, eyebrows raised in question. Rhyn shook his head, and he focused his gaze back outside the window. He wasn't interested in their conversation.

A hand landed on his. Rhyn jumped, jerking his arm back and cracking his elbow against the booth. The other three stared at him, confused as to what was happening.

Embarrassment reddened his face, and Rhyn looked back out the window, his arms tucked under his legs. Myles hadn't meant to scare him so why had he reacted so violently.

Their pizza came, and everyone started digging in. Rhyn waited patiently, watching everyone enjoy themselves. Myles noticed and wiped his hands. He reached for the pizza spatula to serve him. Ryan and Rhys saw it, but Ryan was faster.

"No, stop!" He grabbed Myles's wrist. Myles nearly dropped everything. "He's allergic to mushrooms and peppers."

"I ordered him a sausage calzone," Rhys added.

Myles looked at Rhyn. The other boy looked at him levelly, his eyes slightly wide. He had allergies? Was that why he picked at his food when they went out to eat? Why didn't he tell them at the beginning? Not them. Him? Why hadn't he told him? Why did Ryan know?

Why did it bug him? After the other night, he had thought to put some emotional distance between them. Rhyn was dealing with some serious things, and he didn't want him to project his feelings onto him. Now as he looked between Rhyn and Ryan, he had an annoyed feeling by the familiarity that passed so easily between them.

"Rhyn?" Rhys said. "What do you want to do after this?"

Rhyn frowned as he wiped his mouth. "You're the one who dragged me here. Why are you asking me?"

"It's not all about us. We just wanted to get you out of the house. We're at the end of fall break, and you haven't done anything."

"Has it never occurred to you that I like being alone?" He tilted his head why Rhys chewed silently. "I'm not like you, Rhys. I don't have to go out and party all the time. I'm happy being at home."

Ryan slapped the back of Rhys's head. His brother held the table to keep from face planting in the midst of their food. He glared at his friend when he recovered.

"I told you this wouldn't work," Ryan denied.

Rhys blustered at him. "No you didn't. You said if we got him to come, that the numbers would be even."

Rhyn shuffled back and sighed. He knew this was too good to be true. Whenever his brother wanted to do something with him, he had someone in his corner. He could get away with just about anything.

His appetite gone, he sat back and listened to them argue. He could already feel his patience wearing thin. He began to pick at his fingers, digging so hard one nail started becoming so raw.

Myles watched Rhyn's agitation grow. The more agitated he got, the more he picked at his fingernails. He was starting to bleed. Myles put his hand over his to stop his movements. Rhyn stopped, but he seemed even more restless. His shoulders sagged, and he just left his hand in Myles's.

"Guys, let's go somewhere else," he suggested. He gripped Rhyn's hand tighter to keep him from picking. His face tightened in frustration as he did his best. He finally grabbed his wrist and pulled Rhyn to him. His face was dark as he stared into his face. "Stop."

Rhys looked between his brother and friend. The look on Myles's face was exasperated as he watched Rhyn. The other man had a stubborn set to his mouth. He tugged gently on his hand, but Myles didn't release it. He mumbled to him but it fell on deaf ears. Not many could handle Rhyn's moodiness very well, but Myles took it in stride.

"Where should we go?" Ryan asked.

"Why don't we do something Rhyn wants to do?" Rhys suggested. Rhyn broke eye contact with Myles to look at him. "What do you want to do?"

Rhyn looked between the three. They waited to hear his response, watching him eagerly. They actually wanted to do something he wanted to do? What kind of insanity were they working with?

He reached for Rhys's phone. He looked at the temperature then slid it to his brother again. Glancing outside, he saw the sunshine and smiled.

"We could go swimming," he said. "It should be warm enough. We should enjoy it before we have to close it up."

The other three looked at each other then shrugged in agreement. Rhys paid for the food, and they headed back to the Easley house.

Their mother was home when they pulled up. Leyana Easley was a free spirit. She believed that yoga, crystals, and incense would cure anything. When the triplets were several months old, they all got a nasty sinus infection. Rhyn was able to kick it first, but Rhys and Rhys ended up in the hospital. Leyana deep cleaned the house every day. Some of that rubbed off on her boys.

Rhys yelled at his mom as he blazed up the stairs. Rhyn ventured into the kitchen to see his mom as the other two followed the older brother. Myles paused at the bottom of the stairs to watch Rhyn and his mother. They looked alike with their wavy hair and almond shaped eyes. He could see where he got his bow shaped mouth.

He ran up the stairs to see what the other three were doing. Knowing their shenanigans, they were doing something stupid.

They were changing but there was plenty of banter. Myles couldn't join in because his mind was downstairs with the man who looked identical to his friend. The one with the bow shaped mouth that had kissed him so easily.

Now he understood why Rhyn said he didn't want to be friends. If they were friends, that would draw a line for them. He didn't want to draw a line. He wanted to see where it would go. He wanted to see where Rhyn would take it. Would he want to pursue this? Or would he let it die here?

Myles changed clothes and headed back downstairs. Rhyn was gone, but Leyana had a nice snack spread set out on the patio. She had poolsfloats ready for them. She smiled as they went by, handing out sunscreen. Rhys fussed at her but took it either way.

"Where's Rhyn?" he asked.

Leyana smiled. "He went upstairs to change. I asked him to help me so he's a bit behind."

He nodded and went outside to the warm pool. Rhys and Ryan were already splashing around. He sat on the edge to wait. But he didn't realize what that would actually make him feel, especially when Rhyn came out.