One of them.
“Blah, blah. We are all so happy to see each other. Yes, kisses, hugs, make out already, do the deed, but this boy is poppin’ this champagne. Before we pack and do anything, we are having a glass, celebrating an end of a chapter. Boston treated you well. So long, farewell, but Camden awaits Luna’s fine ass.” Oliver popped the cork off the champagne, and a quick fountain of foam escaped from the bottle in a rush, spewing all over my floor.
“It is, isn’t it?” London said, giving my butt a quick slap.
“Okay, okay, enough talking about my butt.” I let out a soft chuckle as I pretended it hurt and rubbed my butt-cheek.
“I’m sorry that you have to come home,” Evan said, speaking for the first time since he arrived. “I know how much you love it here.”
“I love my family more,” I said, taking the bottle from Oliver and taking a big swallow of the sweet champagne. “But thank you, Evan. I appreciate it.”
“And no,” Ethan started and bent over to stack some boxes. “We haven’t told Easton you are coming home. We figured you didn’t want him to know.”
I lifted a shoulder, pretending not to care if Easton knew, but on the inside, I was glad. I didn’t want Easton to know a thing about me. “I don’t care.”
“Right, and I don’t care that none of the Moore brothers are gay. Girl, please. You can’t lie,” Oliver said as he lifted the bottle up, dancing to no music.
Evan grinned, his slow chuckle deep as he tried to hold in the laughter, but it was no use. Oliver had voiced that the probability of one of the brothers being gay worked in his favor, but none of them were. Oliver thought one had just not come out of the closet yet, but still, after so many years, his hopes were crushed.
Cue the Titanic theme song and the world’s smallest violin.
Ethan stayed by my side for the entire rest of the day. There was something small between us, I could feel it, but it was something that could never be explored. The spark just wasn’t big enough to cause an explosion.
And even after so many years of being in the debris of Easton’s destruction, the ashes were still settling inside me. I had a feeling the burning fuse would never extinguish. I’d always be putting myself back together after the bomb Easton dropped on me.
After we ate and drank, we actually didn’t end up packing at all. We all fell asleep on the floor, and by morning, my neck was stiff, and everyone was rubbing their eyes awake. I turned over to see Ethan next to me, but not touching me, and I so wished him and I could start a story together, but it could never happen.
Not when my hate was love and love was hate for Easton Moore.
“Ugh, damn, the Irish really know how to drink in this town,” Evan said, rubbing his eyes with his thumbs. “Never should have dared that guy at pool. Never.”
“Rookie mistake,” Ethan clicked his tongue.
“Stop yelling,” London groaned from across the room, shoving a pillow over her face. “My head. There is a drunk goblin in my head, pounding against my skull.” She buried her face in the pillow again, her mascara smudged under her eyes, and red lipstick smeared over her mouth.
“Where is Oliver?” I glanced around the room to look for him, but I couldn’t see his pink shorts anywhere.
“I don’t know,” Ethan said, looking around the nearly bare apartment. “I thought he came home with us.”
The doorknob jiggled, and then Oliver cat-walked in like he owned the place. “Good morning, you drunkards! I brought breakfast.” He wore the same outfit from last night but didn’t look hungover like we did. He was bright, like the sun, and it was hurting my eyes. It was too early in the morning.
“Coffee,” Evan reached for one of the cups in the tray that Oliver held, and Oliver took it out of reach. “Yours come with a fee, Mr. Moore.”
“Oh boy,” Ethan pushed up from the floor and took two strides to Oliver, grabbing two coffees and a bag of bagels. He sat down next to me and handed me a warm cup of coffee. “What do you think it is?” he whispered as he brought the cup to his mouth.
“Something that Evan does not want to do. I can say that much,” I watched Oliver lean down and Evan not flinch the closer Oliver got to his face.
“After this, we need to pack up. Evan and I brought one truck, so if you want, I can ride back with you and drive the moving truck, so you don’t have to be alone.”
“Thanks, I’d like that,” I said, biting into the bagel that had cream cheese smeared in it already, and I groaned in delight as I washed it down with coffee. “So good.”
“Kiss me and see what you’re missing hot stuff,” Oliver said salaciously.
“Typical,” I muttered and blew cold air on the steam coming out of the small hole in the lid.
Oliver closed his eyes and puckered his lips, waiting for Evan to kiss him. Evan rolled his eyes but seemed amused. He went along with it, cupped Oliver’s jaw, rubbed his thumb over his cheek, and I was enthralled.
I grasped Ethan’s arm and clutched tight. Was this going to happen?