Above Water ✔️

24 - i plead the fifth

"I just can't believe you turned my brother-in-law gay."

Okay, so I made a mistake going downstairs for a drink after my nap. Dallas was working on some school stuff upstairs. I had fallen asleep in my own bed after I had left him on the balcony. He didn't come up for a while so, out of boredom, I wrote in my journal until I felt sleepy.

When I woke up, he was working on his laptop with a book laid open beside him. He didn't say anything to me, so I just went downstairs for a water. Unfortunately for me, Erick and Phoebe were sitting in the living room with the TV on, Aubrey playing on the floor with Jeremiah. I tried to slip by but got the, "Not so fast."

I sighed and walked farther into the room.

"Have a seat, Meek," Phoebe smiled.

I gave her a thin-lipped smile, taking a seat in the loveseat. Erick stared at me expectantly, as if he genuinely thought that I'd voluntarily give him any details without him asking. I just stared back. I was still annoyed about the whole talking about my father thing.

Phoebe sensed the tension between us. "You don't have to tell us anything, but I just wanted to talk to you about Dallas."

I turned my attention to her, my eyebrows furrowing. "What about him?"

"He's never given any indication that he liked men, so I was really surprised when he told me a few weeks ago that he liked you," she said. I was surprised that he'd told her at all. He definitely gave the impression that he'd keep it all a secret for as long as he could. "And I think it's really great! He seems really happy around you. I just don't know if he's looking for anything serious, you know? I don't want either of you to get hurt."

Why was this even necessary?

"I'm not worried about it," I said honestly. "I don't expect us to get married or anything."

"I just can't believe you turned my brother-in-law gay," Erick said and I rolled my eyes. "The dude's dated more girls since I've known him than I think attended our high school."

Phoebe smacked his arm. "Don't say that to Meek, for God's sake," she said.

"It's fine, Phoebe," I said with a tight smile. "I don't care about that stuff. Like I said, I'm not worried about it. We're just hanging out, getting to know each other until we go back home."

She smiled in relief and nodded.

"So . . . did you guys–" Erick stopped since there were kids in the room.

"None of your business," I said and stood up to leave, but stopped when I had a second thought. I felt my cheeks flushed when asking, "Do you have any king sized sheets?"

They both laughed out loud and instructed me to check the closet in their bedroom. I nodded, going on to my original destination, the kitchen. Ashton was there, heating up some kind of snack in the microwave. I silently cursed, not wanting to be in a room with her.

"Oh my God, Meek. I've been wanting to corner you all day to pick your brain!"

"Awesome," I said. She didn't pick up on my sarcasm.

Ashton followed me to the fridge and lowered her voice while I grabbed two water bottles. "So you and Dallas, right? We all saw you on the beach making out. It was probably, and I'm not even lying, the cutest thing I've ever seen?" she said, her chirpy cheerleader voice grainy to my ears.

"Yeah," I fake laughed.

"So what's his deal?"

I sighed, unable to hold it in. "His deal?"