Rhett stepped into the pool of light cast by the nearest lamp.
His hazel eyes were intense as they stared at me. His hair was dishevelled and he had a bottle of beer in his hands.
"Rhett," I sucked in my breath. "You just disappeared on me today. Where did you go?"
"I should be asking you," he said with a slur. "I was only gone for five minutes, and the next minute, I saw you wining and dining with Marcus and his family. Do you love him now?"
"Of course not," I threw back. "I had no choice, and I didn’t want to cause a scene. How long have you been here?"
"Long enough," he paused and took a swig from his bottle. "Long enough to hear him confess his feelings and ask you to hold him."
He stepped closer, taking another swig from his bottle. He reeked of alcohol and sweat. "So, you and Marcus are a thing now?"
"What? No," I said quickly. "It wasn’t like that. He was just..."
Confessing," he said flatly.
I nodded, feeling exhausted. "Yes. But I didn’t say anything back. I didn’t accept his confessions."
"But you wanted to? I saw you looking at him soulfully. You want to be with Marcus. Just because he introduced you to his family."
"Rhett, you’re drunk," I said quietly and tried to take the bottle away from him, but he moved back, swaying slightly. "And No. It’s not like I can tell him not to like me. I had nothing to do with that."
"Are you going to accept him as your mentor? He’s a prick, Eamon. He sounds sane and good now. His family looks perfect, but you have no idea what he’s capable of doing. He delights in conquering people."
"I didn’t say I would accept him," I sighed with exhaustion, watching as he took another swig from the bottle again. "I think that’s enough drinking, Rhett. You’ve had enough for the day."
I tried to take the bottle again, and he swatted my arms away and drank the entire contents, belching and licking his lips as he swallowed the last drop. He gave me a wry grin as he came towards me and cupped my face.
"I was jealous, you know. I’m fine with you being with Kael; he’s not the best, but Marcus? That’s like removing every standard you have."
"I am not into boys, Rhett," I chuckled, patting his shoulders warmly. "I like you, I like Kael, but only as a boy should do this fellow boy. That’s all. I have no romantic interest in either of you."
"How about Marcus?" he asked.
"I wanted to come get you several times...But I saw you smile when you were with him."
"Rhett..." I rolled my eyes.
"Maybe you do belong with him. Maybe Marcus can give you the safety and protection I couldn’t."
"That’s not what this is about," I said quietly.
"Isn’t it?" Rhett challenged. "You’re vulnerable, alone, and scared. Marcus has power and influence, and I think he likes you, too. From a practical standpoint, accepting his offer makes perfect sense."
"That’s enough, Rhett. Don’t make me hit you."
I grabbed his arm, swinging it over my shoulder, and placed my other arm around his waist. Together, we started for Kael’s room.
As soon as we got there, I rang the doorbell, and I barely had time to wait before the door swung open and Kael came into view.
"I was beginning to think you won’t show up," he murmured and was about to say something else when his eyes flicked to Rhett.
"Is he dead?" Kael asked.
I didn’t expect the night to end this way.
With Rhett leaning heavily against my side while we stood in front of Kael who had an exasperated expression on his face.
He folded his arms across his chest and asked flatly. "Is he dead?"
"Of course not," I replied quickly. "But he’s...extremely drunk. I had no other choice but to bring him here—I couldn’t leave him passed out in the courtyard, and I didn’t know where else to take him."
Kael sighed heavily, the sound conveying volumes about his opinion of having to deal with drunk people.
Without another word, he pulled Rhett into his arms, slinging him over his shoulder effortlessly before walking back inside. I followed behind, shutting the door softly behind me.
But as soon as I stepped into the room, I stopped.
Kael’s room looked completely different from when I’d left that morning. The entire room had been rearranged entirely—where there had once been a double bed, there were now two single beds positioned against opposite walls on either side of the room with fresh sheets.
A small wardrobe had been added near the wall, and my things were folded neatly at the foot of the left bed. The entire room looked organised—more spacious, yet distant—Kael’s way of drawing boundaries.
"You rearranged everything," I turned to Kael, who had deposited Rhett on the couch and was taking off his shoes and loosening some buttons on his shirt.
"The room is big enough to accommodate another bed. We don’t have to live like Spartans because you don’t want to stay in the dorms, and I hate the couch so much," he said without looking at me. "I thought this would be better. The only thing we would have to share is the bathroom and the living area, aside from that, we’re good."
Before I could comment, Rhett suddenly perked up from his position on the couch, his eyes focusing on Kael.
"Kael," he called out. "Eamon is not being faithful to our friendship! Come listen to this."
I felt my face burn with embarrassment as Rhett brought out his phone and tapped on the screen several times. Kael had ignored him; instead, he had crossed over to the little kitchenette at the corner of the room and was busy making what seemed to be coffee.
Rhett wobbled to his feet and headed to where Kael was, holding his phone to his ear.
I gasped with shock as Marcus’s voice filled the room. Rhett had recorded our entire conversation, including Marcus’s confession.
"He spent the entire day with Marcus and his family," Rhett continued, gesturing wildly with one hand when the recording ended. "They had this whole romantic family picnic thing, and he just went along with it like he didn’t have any other friends who cared about him."
Kael finished making the coffee and dragged Rhett back to the couch, pressing the coffee mug into his palm. He went back to the kitchenette and busied himself with another cup of coffee. Whether or not he was hearing Rhett, I didn’t know. His facial expression had not changed.
Rhett dropped the mug on the coffee table and continued rambling. "You need to hurry up and request Eamon as your mentee. We can’t let Marcus continue with his heinous plan to seduce our poor, innocent friend here."
I wished the floor would open and swallow me whole. This was the kind of attention and speculation I’d been trying to avoid, and here was Rhett broadcasting my business.
"Rhett, maybe you should rest—" I began, but he was already struggling to his feet again.
While Kael remained silent, for a weird reason, I felt guilty. I cleared my throat, hoping Kael would turn towards me. He did turn, giving me the briefest look.
"He doesn’t know what he’s saying."
Kael arched a brow, his eyes meeting mine. "Does he?"
"I’m being serious, Kael. At least, I know Marcus is serious about his likeness for Eamon, and he is already falling for it. We need to stop him from accepting his mentorship," Rhett said again.
"Can you stop saying things that I didn’t say?" I yelled at Rhett. "Who said I was going to accept his mentorship?"
"You spent the entire day with his family," Rhett complained, wobbling back to where I stood. "You didn’t bother to find me or something. I was gone for only five minutes. How can you look at yourself after dining with the same man who nearly had you abused last week? After everything we’ve done to..."
"Rhett!" Kael suddenly called out to him. "Come sit down and drink your coffee."