Chapter 50
“W
atch this,” I tell Byron, and make the same laser-like pew sounds Felix taught me last year. The water moves and Ruby manifests, staring at us.
“Whew, that is a big, thick croc!” Byron says as we watch Ruby float across the lake. “What's going ON, Ruby baby?”
“She's an alligator, not a crocodile.”
“What's the difference?”
“Alligators have eyes like frogs almost. Crocodiles are bigger and actively hunt humans. Ruby's the most dependable nonperson in my life. No matter what, she'll always be there,” I say. “Just don't get too close. She may not be a croc, but that doesn't mean she won't rip you to shreds.”
“Yeah, if she swallows you up she could be your replacement. Maybe she'll dance better than you, too.”
I laugh.
“Added plus if she can put out fires,” I reply.
Byron cuts himself off mid-laugh and quietly contemplates as he taps his fingers on his thigh.
“This musical is my chance to get out of here and make something of myself,” he says.
“If it gets put off again or somebody burns the whole theater down, I'm screwed.
There's a red folder with all my headshots and résumé in it.
Ms. Easterling's going to give it to the agent the night of the performance.
My parents are going to be there, which is the first time they'll be in the same building in a month.”
“Did they break up?”
“Big-time divorce. And they're putting me in the middle of it. Using me as a chess piece against each other.”
So that's why he doesn't want to go home.
“I'd still take my parents over your psycho aunt any day.”
“I'd take my parents over her, too. Unfortunately, they're dead.”
Byron asks me what happened to them. I tell him everything.
“Is that why you freaked out in our computer class sophomore year when that big thunderclap shook the school?” He covers his face with his palm. “Shit. And I made that joke about your face last semester. I'm sorry, Wade. Why didn't you tell anybody?”
“Nobody ever asked. Honestly, I would have lied anyway.”
“I screwed up. You are handsome,” he says. “Seriously.”
He grabs my hand, and my heart rate elevates. He's staring at me quietly. I don't know what to do. Does he want to kiss me now?
“I'm not perfect either. I've done some bad things,” I blurt out.
“I wouldn't say video pranks for social media clout are necessarily bad things,” he says.
“If I tell you something very serious, can you promise you'll never tell anybody else?”
“I don't have anybody to tell anything anymore.”
I decide to tell him the truth about Roland. Byron sits there in stunned silence, but he doesn't let go of my hand.
“So he really was duped,” he says. “And he's dating Felix now. That's a funny-ass sequence of events.” And, as usual, entirely my doing.
“Felix and I have a plan after graduation, and I don't want to lose him. I can't lose him. Thankfully, I can sense our arrangement is on the verge of getting to him,” I say.
Byron's grip on my hand loosens a bit, and I notice the time on his watch.
“Oh, shit. I forgot I have to go get Roland's meds before the pharmacy closes,” I say.
He nods. “Guess we ought to get going, then.”
___________
When we get to the pharmacy, it's closed. Shit. I ask Byron to drop me off at Roland's, where I imagine his parents are waiting to scold me. Thankfully, the housekeeper answers and leads me to his room.
“I screwed up. I'm sorry,” I tell him.
Instead, he holds up the pill bottle. “It worked out! Felix went and got it for me.”
“That's a relief. It won't happen again.”
“Actually,” he says. “If it's okay, Felix said he could pick up my meds and even drive me to Houston from now on.”
“Are you firing me?”
“I mean, only if you would be cool with it. I'd just like the opportunity to spend more time with him,” he says.
I cross my arms. “Fine.”
“I'm sorry.”
“You don't have to be sorry,” I say.
“No, I'm sorry that I never told you I'm dating Felix.” He wheels closer to me, but I can't look him in the face.
“That's why I was asking you if you asked him out.
I felt bad. But he kept pursuing me. The thing is, I feel the same way about him that he feels about me.
I feel like I really know who I am now, and I don't care if my parents think Felix and I are going to hell. And then you started dating Byron, so I thought maybe it was over.”
It feels like the nail in the coffin. Roland stares at me with an uncertainty in his eyes, like he was sitting on this and didn't know how to bring it up.
“I was hoping to hold on to the job until I graduate to save up some more money,” I say. “At least I still have the petsitting gig.”
“I know. I'm not trying to make it sound like I don't like you driving me. I value our friendship and I'm grateful that you've been so good to me—even after everything I did,” Roland says. “You know what, forget it. I shouldn't have asked that. You can still drive me.”
“No, I get it. You want to be with Felix. I just…” I say, holding on to the “just” for as long as I can to create suspense.
Roland's eyes widen and he gives me the inevitable “What?”
“You know, Felix gets intense about people at first, then loses interest. He was infatuated with Byron, and he forgot about him overnight. So don't expect too much, okay? He and I are still moving to LA after graduation. I don't want you to get your heart broken again after the whole Adam thing.”
He tips his head to the side and his eyes grow frosty. “Anyway, my dad will Venmo you the last payment.”
I let out a meek “thank you” and start to leave, but he calls out my name.
“You said you wanted to see me happy. This is the happiest I could be.”
“Enjoy the day,” I say, and then I'm gone.