"Nah, there’s too much to be scared of in the physical realm to add paranormal fears to the mix."
"Like what?"
"Snakes." He whispers.
"You’re afraid of snakes?"
"Don’t make some one eyed snake joke. I hate all reptiles."
"Interesting."
"What about you, what are you afraid of?"
"Change."
He slows and looks at me. "You’re afraid of change?"
"Yeah, I guess. It’s fine. This is getting too deep." Rhys just nods. But my heightened state causes words to bubble out of my mouth. I guess they figure they need to be said if I’m about to die. "It’s not just change, it’s like, what you lose when things change."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, like one of my best buddies is getting engaged, and his girl is great, but the time he used to spend with me and our other friends is like halved because he’s spending time with his girlfriend. And then when he does make time for us he talks about her." I sigh. "I’m not an idiot. I know we’re all going to grow up and grow apart. I guess I just miss him."
"You should tell him." Rhys suggests.
"I don’t really get into deep stuff with my teammates."
"Why not?"
"Just don’t." I shrug. I’m the ‘funny guy’. I’m the one with the jokes and the nicknames and the good times. They don’t want to discuss feelings with me.
"Would they be as scared as you to explore The Keep?" He asks and I shove his shoulder.
"Maybe. Young Gun, Aiden, would be like you. He’s even keeled, nothing phases him. Good traits for a goalie. And then Boba Tea, Bryson, would totally get into it. Crocs, Crosby, would be into it but wouldn’t let on justhowinto it he was. E.T., Emmett would argue for the science and logic. And Cap, Felix, would be so into it. Like he’d become obsessed with all the local folklore."
"These guys are your teammates?"
"Yeah, there isn’t a ton of time to maintain friendships outside of the team." I turn to him. "But, a friend-with-benefits is an entirely different circumstance."
"Is that so?" He laughs as we reach the side of the ruins.
"Yep, you’re my new priority because you mean orgasms."
"Priorities." He chuckles.
"Rhys, if orgasms aren’t your priority I fear you have life backwards."
"Philosopher are you?"
"Yes." I lift my chin in his direction. "What about you? Have a group of friends you’ll catch up with while you’re home?"
"Not really." Rhys shrugs. "I’m close with my parents, and the staff members at the house. Growing up I didn’t have a ton of friends."
"Guess you’ll just have to hang out with me all week then." He shrugs like this was inevitable. Maybe in a way it was. "Plus, you have a ton of touching minutes racked up."
"So do you." He points at me and I wink.
"Oh no, do I? We’ll have to spread them out over the next week since you don’t have anyone else to hang out with."
