A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies - Christina Lee Page 0,52

straight, wasn’t he? That development couldn’t possibly be something he’d missed in the last year, could it?

He heard Audrey grumble as she stared them down.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered to her. “You don’t like the guy?”

“Not for Emerson,” she scoffed, and before he had time to process what that meant, they were saying their goodbyes and going out the door. He noticed Neil briefly placing his hand against Emerson’s lower back, and inexplicably, Rhys felt suddenly flushed and dizzy as he was bombarded with warring emotions of jealousy and possessiveness. What the hell is happening?

“Are you okay?” Audrey asked in an alarmed tone. “Should I call Em back?”

That snapped him out of it. “No! Everything is fine.”

He aimed the remote and started the movie Sam had selected. As they got lost in the beginning scene, Rhys considered why he felt all hot and clammy.

It was true that he and Emerson had gotten closer over the past weeks. Probably closer than they’d ever been, so maybe it was natural to feel jealous about him having another friend when he’d been feeling so isolated during recovery. But this felt like a different sort of jealousy. He had always found his best friend attractive but knew he was off-limits because he was straight. And now it felt like those blossoming feelings that had been buried for so long were beginning to sprout new roots in his chest, making it feel tight and funny.

Thrusting the confusing thoughts from his mind—or at least trying to—he got through the movie, then tucked the kids in bed, fielding strange looks from Audrey the entire time.

After that he hung out in the living room, absently clicking through the channels, pretending he wasn’t waiting up for Emerson. Except that was exactly what he was doing, not that he knew why or what newfound knowledge he would possibly gain by watching him come through the door.

But it felt like a weight was sitting directly on his chest. Rhys was missing something huge, he just knew it, and the only way to get to the bottom of it was directly from the source.

He must’ve fallen asleep because he felt a hand shaking him awake and Emerson’s voice in his ear. “Hey, you okay?”

He rubbed his eyes and sat up, noting the cooking channel was still playing on the television. “Did the Rockets win?”

“Yeah, it was awesome.” Emerson’s voice crackled with excitement.

“Awesome,” he echoed in a strained voice.

When he looked up at Emerson, he noticed his eyes were a bit glassy. Was he tipsy from one too many beers at the game? It was so unlike him, but so was the way he’d acted earlier.

Rhys grabbed his stomach as his gut roiled again. His brain was on spin cycle, but he suddenly wasn’t so sure he should voice his questions aloud.

Emerson sank to the floor in front of him, his forehead creased in worry. “Is something wrong?”

Fuck, now he felt guilty for alarming him. He’d been out, obviously had a good time, and now he was going to bombard him with confusing questions?

“No, I…I don’t know.”

“Are you sick?” Emerson’s panicked tone made him rethink everything. He wished he’d just gone right to his room and waited until morning.

“What? No. I’ve just got stuff on my mind. It’s no big deal. Forget it.”

“Out with it, Rhys.” His warm fingers gripped his knee. “You can tell me anything, remember?”

“Yeah, okay. It’s just that I noticed…” He took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. “When you were leaving with your friend, something sort of struck me…” Fuck, this was harder than he’d thought. “What I mean is, was that a date?”

Emerson gasped, and his cheeks streaked a crimson shade.

“My bad if I’m way off base,” he said as Emerson sank down beside him on the couch. “I thought I noticed something there. I mean, my gaydar might be a bit damaged from the accident, but I can still recognize when one man is attracted to another.”

Emerson became completely motionless, and Rhys was afraid he’d somehow offended him. But when he glanced in his direction, he was panting heavily through his nose, his chest heaving from the effort.

“You’re killing me here, Em. I’m sorry if I upset you.”

“You didn’t.” His gaze sought Rhys’s. “And you’re not exactly wrong. I do think Neil is attracted to me.”

He felt a stitch in his chest as he asked the question he was most interested in. “Are you attracted to him?”

Emerson shrugged. “Maybe? I…I dunno. But no way I’d get into