Page 65 of Catching Sparkles

She only knew Rhys was totally my type because I tended to go out with guys that reminded me of him. But I’d decline to mention that particular little fun fact to her. I blinked innocently, raising my palms in a gesture of surrender.

“Guilty,” I admitted lightly.

“Too bad he’s not into guys,” she remarked with a laugh, before tilting her head. “Well, actually no. Even if he was, Benji would probably die if you guys did anything. Can you imagine?”

“Ah, nope,” I answered, forcing out a chuckle. “He probably would.”

She headed back out with her lemonade, leaving me alone, my stomach churning with anxiety. I’d never really lied to Benji before. Not since I’d come out to him when we were kids. Ugh, was I the shittiest friend in the world?

Things between Rhys and I were under wraps for now, but… That wasn’t how things were going to stay forever, at least not according to my master plan. Would Benji end up hating me for messing around with his brother? I loved Rhys and I needed to be with him, but Benji had been the constant in my life for as long as I could remember. He’d been my rock when I’d had basically nothing and no one else.

As fate would have it, just as I’d decided to slink out from my hiding spot in the kitchen and rejoin the herd, Benji exited the bathroom in the hallway just before I could walk past.

“Hey,” he greeted me happily. “I haven’t gotten to talk to you all day.”

“Yeah it’s been kind of hectic,” I agreed, forcing a smile onto my face.

“What’s wrong?” He asked instantly, his brows drawing together as he scrutinized my expression.

“Nothing!”

“Yeah, you can BS everybody else with that fake smile bat your eyelashes crap, but not me.”

Taking in a deep breath, I resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose. “Really, it’s nothing.”

He stared at me for a few moments, before lightly shaking his head. “Come sit down with me for a minute. I want to talk.”

Somewhat reluctantly, I let him drag me over to the living room and onto the loveseat, where we’d spent an innumerable amount of hours watching movies and playing video games as kids, before he’d gotten a TV for his bedroom.

“Tell me what’s going on in your head,” he ordered, the moment my ass touched the cushion.

I paused for a moment, considering. I hated lying to him, but I didn’t have a choice in the current moment. Being open about what was going on would destroy my relationship with Rhys, and it wasn’t fair to out him, anyway. I would never do that to anyone. I decided if I couldn’t talk about the one specific thing that was happening in my life, I’d at least be open about the other stuff.

“Well, you know I’m really happy for you and Josie and everything. But, I guess… I can’t help but feel a little jealous, too.”

Benji let out a breath, his shoulders slumping down like he was a deflating balloon. “Aw, Kendall… This is all going to happen for you, too. And, you know, you won’t have to serve fried chicken when you have your party.”

I laughed, putting my palms over my eyes. “You could tell?”

“No!” He promised, snorting. “You did a great job hiding it. I just know you.”

“Not every occasion warrants fried chicken.”

“I know, I know,” he said good-naturedly, and when I cracked one eye open, he was grinning at me. “She’s her own woman. I couldn’t fall for some high-minded snob.”

“Nah, I know,” I said. “You know I love Josie. And, I mean… I am happy for you. Really. And I can’t wait to be an uncle.”

“I get it,” he promised me. “But we swore our kids would be best friends, so you kind of have to get a move on with the whole settling down thing.”

“I’m trying,” I said wryly, rubbing my temples with my fingers. “You don’t know how hard I’m trying.”

“It’s not as easy for you, I know,” he acknowledged with a slight frown. “I sure hope that guy you’re creeping around with is a good one.” I opened my mouth to deny it, but he cut me off. “Don’t bother saying you aren’t. I don’t buy it.”

My guts twisted and writhed with guilt, but I just couldn’t. Rhys’ sexuality wasn’t my secret to tell. Still, as long as I didn’t directly mention Rhys, then… I didn’t have to lie to Benji’s face. There was no reason to. He didn’t believe me, anyway.

“He’s a good guy,” I finally said, and Benji’s eyebrows popped up a bit. “But it’s complicated.”

“Right,” he said flatly. “Of course it’s complicated. So can I meet him, or not?”