He looks at me quizzically. Busying himself again after I give nothing away. I don’t care if he saw my phone just now. What Rory and I talk about is between us. It’s not Eli’s business.
He knows better.
Despite everything, I have been making more of an effort to try and see my boys more. We see each other a lot of the day already but that’s school or basketball.
We need time to just hang out and unwind. Allotting any extra time for them in my already packed schedule. Mostly we do dumb stuff that’ll get us arrested or play video games.
Inadvertently, it also allows less time for Eli to hang with Rory. That hadn’t been the original intention but I’m not going to complain about the results.
Rory may be blinded by her twelve-year-old memories of him but I’m not. I was telling the truth when I told her she doesn’t know him like I do. Eli comes off as the nice guy, but he carries darkness inside the same as the rest of us.
While Eli likes to disguise himself behind kindness and friendship, I’ve always been up front about who I am. My intentions are never unclear when you meet me. I don’t see the need to pretend to be something I’m not.
That’s the thing about us hellhounds people fail to see. We all have masks. We just each choose to wear them differently.
Like understands like.
Unfortunately, that’s my disadvantage. Eli’s too good at hiding who he is and knows Rory, same as I do. They may have a history, but Rory is still mine.
Cut, dry, and send it to the press because that’s one fact that won’t be changing.
“That work for you too?”
“Works for me,” Finn says, a little drawn.
Whereas Eli is smart and convincing, Finn is easygoing and laid back. Well, usually, lately my oldest friend has been more standoffish and distant.
We’ve known each other since we were in diapers and even then, he never took life too seriously. The complete opposite of myself, which is how we became friends to begin with.
Finn always shared his toys, and now grown up, that hasn’t changed. Only now, it’s usually with pussy and cars.
I know, for a fact, he and Eli have shared girls before. I have zero clue if they’ve shared at the same time, but they’ve been known to pass a few back and forth like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
It’s a rare occasion if Finn isn’t willing to share. His car is a good example of a non-negotiable.
If I really need to, though, I know I can still manipulate him into handing it over. He knows me better, so it’s more of a challenge, but I can manage if need be.
Finn is willing to give slack, while I prefer to live life on a tight, narrow line.
Although something tells me he’s been regretting that logic as of late.
I’ve caught his eyes lingering past us a few times in the last several minutes. Not that it will take much effort to confirm my suspicions if I turn around. So, I don’t bother. Willing to bet my left thumb that I’d find a certain dark-auburn-haired girl if I did.
“Lady troubles?” Eli asks, catching on as well.
See, that’s how we’re similar, we both observe what most people take the time to miss. Our difference is that I never would’ve brought it up. I prefer when people come to me.
Plus, often, more times than not—shocker—I don’t care about other people’s feelings. What they do with their lives is not my concern unless it involves me.
Then we might have a problem.
Also, as much as it would be humorous to pop the hearts in his eyes. I can’t because I’m in the boat right fucking beside him with his sister.
Drawing out his weight, Finn sags into both of us. Arms slinging over our shoulders, grin too springy. “Let’s get fucked up tonight.”
thirty-nine
Rory