Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Once it was all sorted, the parents’ master bedroom, which was located on the first level, had remained closed, left like a snapshot in time. They even avoided using the attached bathroom. It was Rhys’s idea to get the kids excited about sleeping in their own rooms again with new coats of paint, bedspreads, and stuffed toys, and it had worked for the most part.
Because that was what friends did. Even friends who were beginning to drift in different directions. Emerson had a girlfriend named Morgan junior year of high school, and was more of a homebody, whereas Rhys had explored his sexuality by hooking up here and there, keeping his main focus on some traveling as well as nature outings with friends. He’d even begun to add new ink to his sleeve of tattoos of cool places he’d visited. But he knew they’d always be connected by history, and even more so after this absolute tragedy.
As Emerson joined in, singing a second verse of the traditional happy birthday song, Sam rolled his eyes—the kid was as serious-minded as his brother—and Rhys basked in Emerson’s dazzling smile across the table because he hadn’t seen it showcased much lately. Though his grief hadn’t made him any less handsome or admirable. Fuck, the guy was brave and strong and…well, gorgeous. No one could blame Rhys for noticing every now and again. He was a warm-blooded gay man after all.
Ever since his confession at the pool that one summer as his heart had throbbed in his chest, he’d thought about how Emerson looked in the moment. Surprise and hesitation had lined his forehead, but also curiosity and openness, at least that was how it had seemed to him at the time. Rhys had been all in with the kiss until he thought about how the outcome might ruin them—and him. And since they hadn’t brought up his confession or the almost meeting of lips since, he was thankful that Emerson didn’t seem to miss a beat and accepted him unconditionally.
Once they ate the banana cream pie—in lieu of cake since Sam was not a fan—they moved on to gifts. When Sam seemed pleased with the microscope and books on scientific methods he’d requested, Emerson’s shoulders finally began unwinding, his forehead smoothing out. No doubt, the worry about making Sam’s birthday a decent celebration after such a tragedy had been clawing at his insides.
Fuck, this year had been awful, and Emerson had changed into a man with the heaviness of the world on his shoulders. Which only ratcheted up his attractiveness. Bastard. He’d make some girl gloriously happy someday. But for now, Rhys’s plan was to keep his best friend from completely falling apart.
Rhys clapped his hands. “Now for my gift!”
Emerson shook his head as Rhys handed his wrapped box to Sam. “You’re like one of the kids.”
Rhys stuck out his tongue to prove his point as Sam’s eyes lit up, something he hadn’t seen in weeks.
Sam painstakingly pulled off the bow, then the colorful wrapping paper as Audrey hurried him along.
Upon first inspection of his gift, Audrey seemed confused while Sam released a gasp.
Rhys felt the need to explain. “It’s—”
“Ladybug larvae!” Sam announced before sputtering out biology facts about how ladybugs go through their metamorphosis.
Sam sprang from his seat and threw his arms around Rhys’s waist. Rhys laughed and rubbed his head as Emerson and Audrey looked more closely at the habitat that came with the kit.
“Ewwww, that’s gross,” she declared.
“Is not,” Sam countered, reaching for the box. “I bet you didn’t know that ladybugs eat aphids and help farmers with crops, which in turn helps the environment.”
“We don’t even live on a farm!” Audrey remarked and then backed away when Sam tried to offer her a closer view of the larvae.
“I plan to have a garden this summer. Emerson said I could.” His hand swung wildly toward his brother. “And maybe even compost,” he added, like he was a thirty-year-old biology professor instead of a seven-year-old science whiz. Rhys felt his heart grow a little thicker in his chest.
He hoped Mrs. Rose would have approved of his pseudo big-brother skills. In fact, he found himself wondering that a lot. He hadn’t realized how much of a second mom she’d become to him, and he felt the loss in the marrow of his bones.
The warmth of Emerson’s hand landed on his shoulder, the weight and size he’d come to recognize. His fingers weren’t as calloused as his own, but they were strong and sure most of the time—at least at times like these.
“Way to show me up,” Emerson murmured, and when Rhys turned, his friend wore a watery smile. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The raw gratitude in his voice made Rhys shiver.
“Where did you even find such a thing?” he asked.
Rhys smirked. “You might’ve heard of something called the Internet?”