A Lover's Decision

Chapter 6

"Rhys!" The man in question looked up. Myles strode toward him.

Rhys continued picking up the volleyball gear with another student. He'd come early to set up for the basketball team. Myles usually did on days he didn't have a late class. Until the volleyball court was finished with renovations, they were practicing on the basketball court so their practices sometimes overlapped.

Myles had already changed into his practice clothes. He began winding the net's cords up until he could tie them to the net. He disassembled the net, careful to keep it from getting tangled. He met Rhys at the other side, handing the bundle to him. Then he gathered the poles and tucked them into the bag.

Usually they just rolled the net into the away/visiting team's locker room. This weekend the university was hosting a high school tournament so the locker rooms had to be cleared. The volleyball team was playing out of town this weekend so the net didn't need to be assembled.

Rhys handed the bag to the player. They talked cordially for a few moments before they said their farewells. Myles was amazed at his friends. Usually he was the one who knew everybody, but Rhys knew all the athletes. He went out with them almost as much as he did with Myles. He was the social butterfly.

"Did you not have class today?" Rhys asked. "You're usually right on time."

"We were let out earlier than usual. I went to the library after," Myles replied.

Rhys motioned for him to follow him to the equipment room. They grabbed two baskets of basketballs as well as cones and a few pads. They had a tendency to slam into the floor during layups. They were violent with each other, but if the other team tried anything, they went after them. Sometimes they ended up fouling out and sometimes the coach and referee let them play. But they were ready for anything.

"I actually went to see Rhyn," Myles blurted.

The older brother stopped what he was doing and looked at his friend. Myles stared at him, hoping he wouldn't hit him. Rhys was well within his rights to do so. If anyone had gone against his friend's wishes, Myles wouldn't take it lightly.

"Didn't I ask you not to bother him?" Rhys asked.

"Yes, but I needed to apologize. It was eating me alive." Rhys stared at him for a long time so he continued. "I wish you would have told me it was Rhyn and not you. I could have walked you through the aftercare. He wouldn't have gotten a fever."

"Myles, what makes you think he would have told me? He was embarrassed. There was no way inhell he would have told me he slept with my best friend. I didn't see him all weekend because he hid himself in his room. I didn't even know he was sick until Monday after you told me what had happened."

Myles hadn't realzied Rhyn had told anyone. He thought Rhys had just kept it from him. He should have known when Rhys allowed him to meet his brothers that Rhyn was the suffer in silence type. He thougth if he showed he cared, he could get the younger brother to open up to him.

He hadn't thought Rhyn would deny him that. No one had done that before, and it shocked him. He wanted to befriend the younger Easley boys, but his attempts were being thwarted. Rhyd probably wouldn't be an issue. He wouldn't care about his past, but he wanted to really know Rhyn. Would Rhys be supportive though?

"I honestly just want to apologize," he muttered.

Rhys whistled then tossed a ball at Myles's chest. The other man caught it easily. "Rhyn isn't like me at all. He won't care what you do, but he may fixate on you. It's how his brain works. I don't want you to hit it and quit it with him. He's not like that."