Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Everest
“I think it’s your turn?”
I blink out of my daze. The black-numbered tile in my hand clatters on the table and I chuckle with embarrassment. “Sorry. What am I supposed to do again?”
Max doesn’t notice my previously distracted state as he sticks his nose in the instruction manual. “Um, I think you have to make a set with the same number but different colors? Or same color and ascending number?”
“But what do I do if I don’t have anything?”
“Not an option?”
“Do I draw another tile?”
“Maybe?”
“Max!”
“I’m sorry!” he shouts, drawing the attention of some elderly ladies sitting at the table next to us. “This game is hard.”
I look at the Rummikub box and frown. “It says eight year olds can play this.”
Max doesn’t seem at all bothered and simply shrugs. Fingering a tile, he puts it down with complete confidence. “Your turn.”
“Right,” I mumble. “How have you been lately?”
“Can’t complain,” he says with that happy grin I’ve gotten used to. Max never seems to be bothered by anything, so when his smile falters I cock my head. “What?”
“You sure?” I press out of concern. “Everything okay?”
“I…” He trails off as he looks around the room. “Um, when did you know you were gay?”
My eyes widen. One of the things I love about Max is that he speaks his mind, but it still catches me off-guard.
I guess I’m used to teetering around the edge of things, and he reminds me a lot of Elton with the way he dives head first into topics that others might skirt around.
“Okay, good question. I always knew, I suppose. When I wasn’t interested in girls when everyone else was, that was a big tip off. ”
“But what if you had always liked girls. They’re so soft and they always smell good. Boobs are nice too, really nice actually. I love the feeling of sucking on—”
“Too much info,” I chuckle as I finally place my tile down. Biting down on my lower lip, I look up at him through my lashes. “So… you think you’re gay?”
“Bi-curious for sure,” he clarifies as he looks at his tiles. “But, I don’t know. It’s a little confusing.”
I can sympathize with that. I know Rhys was the same way when we first got together.
It wasn’t that he was opposed to it or internalizing homophobia.
He just didn’t get it. After a bit, though, he realized that he couldn’t deny his attraction to me.
He says that maybe it had always been there and I was the one that sparked it.
“Anyone in particular you’re interested in? ”
To this, he flinches. I catch it immediately because, like I said, Max isn’t like that. The flush that covers his cheeks is a tell-tale sign that he definitely has someone in mind. I expect him to just say it, but he keeps his mouth shut. “Um, no. Just curious. That’s all. Super chill.”
I know it’s not true, but I don’t press. When he’s ready to talk to me, he will. Although, I have a sneaking suspicion that a certain owner who always asks for pie might be the reason behind this.
“You?” he asks. “How are things with Rhys?”
I sigh. “He’s been… weird.” He’s been extra twitchy lately and unlike himself. He’s still the guy I fell in love with, still caring and loving, but I have a feeling he’s keeping something to himself. I’ve practically known him my entire life, so I can tell. “He has a secret.”
“Ooo, juicy.” Max rubs his hands together as he wiggles his butt in his seat. “Any ideas what it is?”
I shake my head. “He’s always been good at keeping things close to his chest. I’m just…”
I’m upset he doesn’t feel like he can trust me with whatever is going on. It also hurts because he’s done so much for me, and I want to give that back. I want to support him in everything and be there when he needs help, but it seems like he won’t let me. That’s the part that stings.
Max can sense that I’m upset and reaches over to place a hand on my shoulder. “It’ll be okay. You’re a good guy, Everest. I’m sure he might not be saying anything to not burden you.”
“Burden me,” I laugh shortly. “We’re getting married soon. He’s everything to me. I want to ask but—”
“He doesn’t seem like the type that would like that.”
“Yeah, definitely not.”
Max opens his mouth to say something else, but his phone dings and gets his attention. He scrunches his nose as he looks at it. “Who just added me to a group chat?”