Chapter 28

After winning the first round of the national tournament, the basketball team lost in the second. They put up a good battle in the first half, but they were playing against a Division I team. No one faulted them for the loss. Naturally, they were heart broken, but they'd played their best.

March turned into April, and April crept into May. Finals were upon them before they realized it. Myles and Rhys had to finish their final projects. Rhyn wrote the first five chapters of his manuscript and turned it in. If he didn't have to edit too much, he could turn it into a writing contest and hopefully get a book deal. If he lost, he could still self-publish.

Rhyd had the hardest time. He had a massive presentation with Dixon, and it all went to his final grade. They'd spent long nights fine tuning their algorithms and other aspects to do the best they could. Rhyd had never worked so hard for one goal in his life.

Somewhere along the way, Myles started staying with the Easleys. He would go home to get clean clothes and his project materials before turning up to study and sleep. He had taken up to the empty side of Rhyn's room and his bed.

Rhyn didn't mind sharing his room. At least it meant he knew MYles was sleeping well. Now that they basically lived together, it was easier to have more intimate moments. They obviously had to be quiet, but they'd figured out how to manage their voices and other noises. The floor tended to be piled high with blankets and pillows at any given time.

They'd managed to make it through finals. From Tuesday to Thursday, they had presentations. Rhyn was first as he presented his manuscript. He had been given the all-clear to send it to any competition he desired. Rhyd was second, having to defend his project with Dixon. The other three sat in the back and listened to the presentation.

When the results came out on the engineering board, Rhyn was tasked with looking at them. Not surprised in the least, Rhyd and Dizon managed to top the class with their project. A day later, they both received a call to work on a government project. They would move to the capital and start a month after graduation.

The last finals had been Rhys's and Myles's. They had to present their presentations on the muscle groups they'd been assigned. Even though they'd been nervous, they'd done well. They weren't at the top of the class, but they graduated. That was all they really wanted.

Graduation day finally arrived. Rhyn stood in line with the others in his college and waited. His parents came to greet him before they inevitably had to find his brothers. Having three sons graduating on the same day had to be tough.

"Pomp and Circumstance" started playing. Ever so slowly, the two lines began to play their parts. They moved slowly so everyone could be seen by their families and friends. It would only be a brief moment until diplomas were handed out, but to some it meant the world. Some were the first in their families to go to college.

Rhyn glanced around. Across the aisle was the College of Health and Human Performance. He spotted Rhys and Myles sitting in the middle of their row. They were three rows ahead of him, and he could see them chattering.

Rhyd was somewhere in front of them. Engineering was a small college because of how competitive and difficult the major was. Rhyd and Dixon graduating at the top of their class meant they not only managed to work hard, but that they'd gone above and beyond the scope of their requirements. To get into engineering was one thing. To graduate with honors was another beast in and of itself.

The president took the podium, and the music stopped. He said a few opening remarks before the campus Baptist minister offered the prayer. Then the national anthem was played followed by the school's alma mater. Finally, everyone was allowed to sit for the commencement speech.

Rhyn didn't really pay attention. Myles caught his eye and made a bored face. He hated idle prattle, and there was no better place to hear that than at a graduation. Speeches were meant to inspire them, but they usually ended up being a narcissistic ramble. From what he did catch, this speech was a combination of that.

The speech gave him time to reflect on what had happened since October. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought he'd be in a very public relationship with one of the school's most popular athletes. And a male athlete at that. He didn't regret it. If he did have one regret, it was that he couldn't get the father-son duo to see eye to eye or come to an agreement. Other than that, he liked being loved. It made him love himself more. It made him value himself.

Rhyn had never truly valued himself in anything other than writing. He knew he could write and tell excellent stories, and he liked being alone so much that it never really bothered him that he didn't have many friends. But rumors had a funny way of making him feel low about himself. Since he'd been with Myles, those rumors hadn't bothered him as much. Somewhere in the mix of all that, Rhyn had started loving himself despite the issues that had arisen.

He was so caught up in his thoughts he missed the first few names of the science majors. The girl next to him nudged him just as Rhyd's name was called. It took an hour just to get through the names of the rows to his left. But he got to see Rhyn, Ryan and Myles walk across the stage to get the blue cylinders.

Forty-five minutes later, Rhyn was waiting to receive his cylinder. He could hear his brothers and their friends cheering even though he was nervous. He'd have never guessed he would have made more friends after high school, but here he was with three new ones. Yes, Myles was his friend as well.

He forced his feet to move as he walked across the stage. He shook the president's hand with his right and accepted the cylinder with his left. Then he walked to the exit. He paused at the end of the ramp for a picture then walked back to his seat.

Time passed by quickly after that, and they had graduated. Once the president welcomed the new class, hats flew in the air in celebration. Rhyn found his hat and looked around. Rhyd and Dixon found him first. They hugged excitedly, nearly bouncing up and down. Then Rhys and Ryan found them which cued more hugs.

Rhyn was turned around. He barely had time to react before his mouth was covered. He knew the taste well, and he sank into it with a sigh. Wrapping his arms around Myles's waist, he held on even though his gown was crinkling.

They found Leyana and Arthur at the top of the gym. The brothers hugged their parents and started posing for pictures outside. Each had pictures taken with their parents and each other. It was just a joyous time with all of them.

"Rhyn?" They turned at the voice. It was Dr. Stern, Rhyn's literary professor. He smiled happily. "Congratulations. I never saw you before today so I never had a chance to give this to you."

Rhyn accepted the letter and opened it. Gently he unfolded the paper and read it slowly. Confused, he looked back at Dr. Stern.

"I never submitted a collection of short stories," he said.

Dr. Stern scratched his head

guiltily. "I did. I submitted them to afriend last semester. She works for Penguin Books. She was so impressed with your works that she wanted to sign you as a full-time author. I told her you had to wait until after graduation. So I sent your first five chapters to her as well."

"She wants to meet at my earliest convenience." He looked at the paper for a while then looked back up. "I'm leaving for Europe on Monday. Do you think she'll wait?"

"I'm sure she will." Dr. Stern said his congratulations to everyone and went to talk to other students.

Myles kissed the side of Rhyn's head and stroked his back. "I'm proud of you."

"I had no idea though," Rhyn said.

"Your work was strong enough to stand alone. Dr. Stern saw it so he submitted it for you," Leyana said. "We can move your tickets back so you can meet with her next week."

"Won't that be expensive?"

"Not at all," Arthur denied. "It's a private jet, son. We're paying the same no matter what."

Rhyn thought about it for a minute. "Only if I can take a commercial flight home."

Everyone laughed at Rhyn's stubbornness, but his parents agreed. E would leave on a private plane but return on a commercial one. At least he was fair about the whole thing. It went right along with his need to be independent.

They were deciding where to have lunch when Rhyn stopped. Myles stopped as well, jerking violently when there was a tug on his head. He looked back to see Rhyn and Braylin staring at each other.

Rhyn realized how much taller he was than Braylin. Even though she was wearing three inch heels, she barely came to his chin. How had he been so afraid of her? She was just a rich girl who wanted to marry for money. He hadn't seen an ounce of integrity from her. So why had he been afraid of her?

"You've managed to graduate? How quaint," she said. She looked at the joined hands of both men. "I think it's time this ends. Let Myles be normal for once."

Myles took an annoyed breath and stepped forward. He was tired of all this. He opened his mouth, but Rhyn squeezed his hand tightly. He stood upright with his shoulders squared.

"Aren't you tired?" Rhyn asked. Braylin frowned at him. "Aren't you tired from projecting your issues onto him? He doesn't want to be with you. He wants to live his own life. Isn't that a normal thing? So he chose me. Big fucking deal. That's his normal, and there's nothing wrong with that."

Myles stared in shock as Braylin slapped Rhyn. It wasn't a silent slap either. Everyone around them heard it. Rhyn's head shifted to the side, eyes closed as an angry hand print blossomed on his tanned skin. He watched the grey eyes open slowly then look at him. Rhyn's stubbornness knew no bounds, but no one had ever slapped him before.

As if waiting for this, Rhys and Rhyd filled his gaze. Dixon and Ryan completed the semi-circle as Arthur and Leyana stood behind the boys. Leyana looked at her son's face, hand holding him gently. Arthur clapped Myles on the shoulder, a show of support.

"I've had enough of you and your antics," Rhys said. He looked directly into Martin's face as he walked over. Myles wondered what it looked like because his father's tightened even more. "They've done nothing wrong but love each other. You two are the ones who have a problem, not them."

"It's unnatural," Braylin said. "He should be with someone of his own caliber."

"You should really, really shut up," Rhyd advised. Braylin huffed at him, turning an annoyed gaze in his direction. "If you want to talk about normality and caliber, you probably shouldn't put yourself in that category."

"Why?" She smiled nastily. "Are you jealous?"

Rhyd's smile was just as nasty but it was tinged with a hint of insanity. "At least I don't sleep with my supposed fiance's father. So no, I'm not in the least bit jealous."

Braylin realized too late that going up against Rhyd was not a smart idea. He was the smartest Easley and had the ability to find even the most buried information. It had been nothing for him to dig into Braylin's and Martin's pasts.

"Hey, Dad?" Myles said. He dropped Rhyn's hand so he could wrap his arm around his waist. "Why don't you marry Braylin? You can have her father's support, and you clearly deserve each other."

"Martin, you should be ashamed of yourself," Leyana scolded. "You son is a good man. He has been polite and helpful, clearly something you did not teach him."

"If he's so special, you can take him," Martin huffed. Myles frowned and opened his mouth. "He doesn't listen to me anyway."

"That's probably due to your lies and outworldly requests," Arthur aded. "Raising a child is never easy. But to throw your hopes and dreams on him is even more outlandish. He's his own person, and he has his own ideals. You should be proud of what he's done and who he's become."

Martin ignored him and looked at his son. "Last time, son. You can leave with me, or you can leave with them. If you leave with them, you can forget about any financial help."

"Selling myself out so you can be happy won't make me happy," Myles said.

With his decision made, Martin turned and left the group. Myles sighed as Braylin followed him. Thye'd both made their own decisions. He could feel as guilty as he wanted, but he made the right choice for himself. He would never be happy doing what his father wanted.

Rhyn tightened his arms around Myles, drawing his attention. "Are you okay?"

"No," he answered honestly, "but I will be."

"Myles, you're always welcome at our home," Arthur said. He waited for some acknowledgement. Then he clapped his hands. "Let's go eat. I'm sure you're all famished."

Rhyn waited, watching Myles. He was watching the area where his father had disappeared. He could see the hurt and pain in his eyes. He never wanted this to happen, but he couldn't stand living a lie. He would rather lose his dad than lose himself.

Myles looked down and smiled. It was tight and painful. His eyes were dark with emotions.

"Let's go eat," he said.

Rhyn allowed him to drag him back to his family. He heard Rhyd and Rhys bickering about where to go. Ryan made the decision, much to everyone's relief.

Myles allowed himself to be swept away by the love these people had for each other. Thye'd stood together, and stood for him. He only wished his family life had been like that. As he looked at Rhyn, he realized he'd made the right choice. He would follow him anywhere.