51. Chapter Fifty-One
Mila picks me up from work on Friday since I don’t need to go home and change or anything and drives us right to dinner to a Hibachi place about a half hour away. We get there twenty minutes early and stay in the car to catch up while we wait for the others.
She invited Mark, Onyx, and Tomas. She said she reached out to Chris, but he didn’t answer her. Even if he did, he wouldn’t have come.
“Have you talked to him at all?” I ask.
She shakes her head, looking out the window. “I’ve been so worried, but I ended up calling his mother and she told me he’s fine. But the way she said fine makes me think he isn’t.”
“He showed up at the house yesterday.”
Her eyes widen, and she turns to me. “To stay?”
I run a hand through my hair, sighing. “Just to get his things. He and Cole shared some words.” I huff. “I don’t want to be mad at Chris because he’s dealing with something, but it’s hard to ignore how he’s treating everyone like shit just because he’s mad.”
“That’s Chris though.”
“He’s never done this before.” Mila winces. “What?”
She sighs, turning her gaze on me. “Bryson, Chris has always been like this. You just never saw it because it wasn’t toward you.”
My brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
“Chris is an asshole. He treats people like crap when he’s mad about something. You’re like the only person he never did it to, and honestly, we all realized he didn’t do it around you either. We could never figure out if it was because you made him different or if he wanted to hide those parts from you. But this stuff with Chris? Though it”s been bad lately, this is nothing new.”
“I don’t understand… He’s always been like this?”
“Yeah, Bry. He has. But we never took it personally because he was just always grumpy. That was Chris. He obviously didn’t want you to see him like that. Take it as a compliment.”
I slink down in my seat. “I feel deceived.”
“No,” she says adamantly, shaking her head. “He didn’t do it on purpose, not for any bad reason. I think he saw how good of a person you were and knew he was being mean but couldn’t help himself. With the drinking now, he just doesn’t care who sees.”
“Mila, I need to tell you something…” I lick my lips and sneak a glance at her. She looks scared. “It’s nothing bad. I mean, at least it shouldn’t be, but you have to promise not to tell anyone.”
“Of course, Bryson.”
“I’m serious. Even if you get captured and tortured.” I smile, and she does too. “You take this to your grave.”
She shifts in her seat, turning her body toward me. “I promise I won’t say anything. What’s going on?”
I take a breath and let it out slowly. Telling her may not be the best idea, but I need to get this off my chest. “I’ve been—”
Banging on the window jolts both of us, and we turn to see Mark’s face pressed against the window.
“Ew, you’re dirtying my car with your greasy face!” she shouts.
“My face isn’t greasy!” he yells back, his voice muffled from being outside the car.
Mila looks back at me with a sad smile. “Talk later?”
I nod, and we get out of the car.
That’s twice I’ve almost told her. Twice I’ve been interrupted. Maybe it’s the universe telling me to keep my mouth shut. I just wish I had someone to talk to about this, to bounce my thoughts off of. To see if I’m as bad of a person as I think I am. Or maybe someone to reassure me that I’m not the devil himself because of what I’m doing. That falling into something safe isn’t a horrible thing.
“Happy birthday!” Mark shouts, pulling me into a hug.
“Thanks, man.”
Onyx is walking toward us. He clicks the button to lock his car just before he reaches me. He hugs me and also wishes me a happy birthday, tugging his beanie down in place as we head toward the front door.
“Just waiting for Tomas,” Mila says, rocking back on her heels.
“Isn’t that him over there?” Onyx asks, pointing to a car driving in.
“Yep, definitely him,” I say, waving at him. “That car sticks out like a sore thumb.”
“Bribe gifts always do,” Mark mutters.
“Bribe gifts?” I ask. I thought it was an apology gift. Thought his father gave it to him as an apology for sleeping with Cole. God, the thought has me seeing red brighter than the fucking car.
“Apparently he caught his dad cheating on his mother, so his dad bought him the car to keep his mouth shut,” Mark explains with a laugh. “Not a bad idea, right?”
I frown, watching Tomas get out of the car. No, it isn’t a bad idea, but it certainly has me changing my opinion on Tomas. Because this isn’t the impression I was under about the entire thing.
I thought he was in the same boat as Chris in all this. Thought he was upset about the whole thing. That’s how he made it seem when we chatted. And maybe he is, but taking a bribe for it is kind of shitty. Though, with the way Chris is behaving, I wouldn’t doubt he’d do the same. Actually, maybe not. Chris is so mad he wouldn’t want anything from his father.
Something about all of this isn’t adding up, and I have no idea how to get the truth without going to the source. And that’s not something I can do. Not without betraying Chris.
Again…
We take up two sides of the hibachi grill and the other people we’re sat with are also celebrating a birthday, meaning our area is the loudest. We have fun. The chef is great, jokes around with us, and plays into how excited we are. He makes the experience ten times better. The food is delicious, but the experience is memorable. Spending a night with my friends, not worrying about anything but having fun, is just what I needed.
I need to do this more often.
We’re waiting for dessert to come when Tomas leans over. “Do you want to do something after this?”
“I’m beat. It’s been a long week at work,” I say.
He nods, not seeming upset at my declination. “How is that going?”
“Pretty good, actually. It’s weird having a big boy job, but I love what I do.”
“Bet it’s better than managing a bank.” He pouts.
I grin. “I get to draw things all day. It’s way better.”
He laughs, and so do I. I like that he isn’t pushing about the hanging out thing. But something about the bribe comment is still bothering me. I want to ask him but know I shouldn’t. I don’t want to ruin my birthday dinner by starting a stupid argument over what is probably just me being jealous.
“If you’re thinking about getting a car, I can talk to my dad?”
I bark out a laugh. “Don’t think I make enough money to afford a BMW.”
“He’ll give you a deal.”
“Even if he did, the insurance would be more than I want to think about. Besides, I’ve had my eye on a Camaro since I knew what a car was.”
“Fine, but if you change your mind, let me know.” He shoulder-bumps me.
“Will do.”
Dessert comes to us and the other people at the same time. Surprise! It’s birthday cake; thanks to Mila setting it all up. Everyone in the restaurant sings happy birthday to me and the guy across from me, then erupts in cheers. When we’re done eating cake, we hang for a little while to finish our drinks. I try to pay for my portion of the bill, but everyone else splits it and refuses to let me add even a penny.
The night was great, but all I can think about is getting home to Cole.