More to This

by Tess Keeler

  CHAPTER TEN

  Henley

  Pearl Street Mall was crowded with Summer tourists, the heat and mountain air combining perfectly as Pierson walked by Henley’s side. They passed a dispensary, and Henley wished he was old enough to explore the shop on his own. For now, they relied on their older friends to hook them up with the legal substance. It was more reliable with making him relax than drinking and cigarettes, and he couldn’t wait to be of age—less than a year now. The cigarette he was inhaling was nearly gone, and they only had one more shop to go into before they could leave the overly populated street. He really wanted to get back to his phone and Everly. He was trying to contain himself long enough to spend some time with his brother, but it was driving him mad. Since the bonfire, he had spent a lot of time trying to prove himself to Everly by being there and reigning in his physical desires with her, even if he had already been pretty reserved with her considering his normal acts.

  Both of their camping gear had missing pieces, and they were planning a big trip with Everly and Mason. Only one of the party was excited about him being a part of the trip. He sighed and looked up at the sign of the outdoor equipment store, dropping his cigarette long enough to put it out. As he leaned forward to pick it up, he heard his brother’s voice reacting to Mason’s presence.

  “Mason, hey!”

  He peeked up and tried to act cool. He tossed his trash into the nearest garbage can as he watched the exchange between the two, both too excited to be talking to each other. In a matter of seconds, the conversation went from a friendly exchange to Pierson leading Mason into the store with Henley falling behind. He hadn’t realized they were close, and he was feeling uneasy about being left to trail. Henley was having a hard time examining their behavior as flirting or friendliness. Mason was always flirting, even with Henley at times. It was second nature for him, but Pierson was clamming up more than usual.

  There was some guilt as he realized he hadn’t paid much attention to Pierson and his past interests. Was he into men? He knew nothing. Henley was pretty self-absorbed, apparently.

  “You’ll be sharing a tent with Everly, right?”

  Pierson was addressing him again as he eyed the camping gear around them, walking toward the back of the store. All of Pearl Street’s stores were so narrow. It was best to work your way to the registers at the entrance. He finally faced his brother and nodded, assuming that was the plan if Mason wasn’t sleeping with her.

  “Do you want to share a tent with me? I’ll have plenty of space.”

  Henley cocked his head a little, listening a little more closely as Pierson and Mason spoke politely about sharing space. When Pierson changed path to show him the sleeping bags, something Henley also needed, Mason teased Pierson about sharing that too. The conversation ended after Pierson stuttered his way through a response. Fool.

  Facing away from them, he texted Everly quickly:

  Does Mason like guys?

  Mason had backed off some, not leaning so close to Pierson’s long blonde hair. He was running his fingers through his curly locks as he stared at the bags, obviously confused.

  Mason doesn't discriminate. Why?

  Does he like my brother?

  Is he not being obvious about it? I’m shocked.

  I can’t tell if Pierce is intimidated by Mason’s entirety or if he is enjoying it. I feel like a shit brother—I don’t know if Pierson is straight or not.

  To answer you-- Mason really, really likes Pierson. I’ve never seen him like this before.

  It doesn’t make you a shit brother. Pierson is very reserved.

  What’s different about Pierson?

  From what Mace has said to me, is he likes that Pierson doesn’t need all the superficial bullshit that most other people need. He knows what he likes, and he enjoys it regardless of what people think.

  Henley nodded along with her words. What she was saying about him was factual. Pierson was true to himself.

  “Did you find one, Hen?” Pierson asked him, moving to stand beside him.

  He shoved his phone in his pocket and shook his head. “Not yet.” He really wanted another cigarette, and he couldn’t place his finger on what was triggering it. The discomfort of being in Mason’s presence, the obvious tension between them most likely the culprit. “There are several blue ones. I just can’t choose.”

  Pierson reached for one high above them and handed it to him. “This one seems like your style.”

  Henley gave his brother a small smile, thankful for his company despite Henley’s baggage. He never cared—only teased. “Thanks.”

  “I’m going to buy my stuff, so we can take Mason to get boots.”

  “Everly is needing some help packing up all of her stuff. Is it cool if I bail?”

  “You drove,” Pierson said seriously—not leaning toward any emotion in general.

  Mason appeared out of nowhere, his accent so smooth and nearly raking on his nerves, “I can take you to your apartment. I’ll just need the address.”

  Henley smiled weakly at him, “Is that okay?”

  Pierce and Henley shared eye contact, and he knew by the look in his eyes and how they sparkled nervously that he was definitely into the idea of Mason. “You’re in good hands,” he said, hoping that Mason didn’t rat him out about lying to leave.

  His brother nodded, and then he was off toward the register. Henley pulled his phone out again, but Mason didn’t move to follow his twin. He cleared his throat, and Henley met his deep brown stare.

  “Despite her attempts to hide it, Everly must really care about you to forgive you so quickly. Unfortunately, I just can’t do the same. Don’t hurt her again, Henley.”

  He clenched his jaw, feeling his whole body throb with tension. “I’m not going to fuck this up, Mason.”

  “You said that last time. Except, I believed you then.”

  “You’re telling me you’ve never made a mistake, Mason?” Henley stood a little taller, looking down at who he thought was a friend. Being tall had its advantages. Henley knew of the huge blowout Mason had with a couple the year before after seducing a partner out of being with the other. He was pretty sure it was the female side, but now he wasn’t so sure. His memories provided him with something to use. Ammo. “You’ve never used your charm to break up couples who were happier without you in between them?”

  Mason was almost hissing when he responded, “You have no idea what you’re talking about. But, you’re one to talk, Henley. I have no doubts you’ve done the same.”

  Henley’s heart was slamming around in his chest, and he was clenching his phone in his fist. They were too similar, and it was backfiring. “Fuck you. I don’t sleep with anyone willing to spread their legs for me.”

  “Do you think being superficially selective makes you any different from me? I see through the cover, you can’t get past it.”

  Henley was falling victim to his anger as he put his free hand on Mason’s chest, sliding it to grip his already loose collar. “You don’t know me. You can act like you do, but you have no idea what I’ve been through.”

  He was dangerously calm with Henley’s grip on him, his voice low. It only pushed Henley further. “Everyone has a sob story, Moore. Get over yourself. It’s no excuse.”

  “Then what the fuck is your excuse?” he whispered, pulling Mason’s face toward his.

  Still calm, the self-righteous brit laughed a little. “I don’t have one. Everything I do, I do consciously. I’m aware of my self-destruction and its repercussions. Are you?”

  Henley shook as he darted his eyes between the ones smiling at him. Suddenly a hand was on his chest, pushing them apart. Mason stumbled along with Henley, both snapping out of it to look at the cause. Pierson’s eyebrows sat low on his forehead as he exclaimed, “What the hell is going on?”

  Everyone was looking at them now.

  “I’m out of here,” Henley said, dropping the sleeping bag and walking out the door. Once free of the store, he mostly jogged t
o his car. He needed to be as far away from them as possible.

  “Mason and I had a fight. I almost hit him, Everly. If it weren’t for Pierce, I probably would have,” Henley sighed, avoiding Everly’s eye contact as he confessed to fighting with her best friend. He had only been in her house for less than five minutes, and it just fell through his lips.

  “What even started it?” she asked, her face turning red just as he looked over her expression. She looked bewildered and a little frustrated.

  “He had warned me not to hurt you again.”

  “Okay, and that made you mad?” Amusement washed over her features as she tried to find a reason why that would start a fist fight. It did sound stupid.

  Passionately, Henley went on to explain the rumor he had brought up in retaliation. He explained the story in full detail, trying to help her understand. He hoped he wasn’t being overdramatic. What if she was turned off by his outburst and aggression? Mason was her best friend after all.

  He looked down at his fingertips as they played on his lap. When he looked back up, her eyes were wide, and she was mouthing an “Oh.”

  “I know I took it too far. I’m sorry. I hate how upset it made me.”

  “I can understand that upsetting you, but, while it's not my story to tell you, the rumors are true-- to an extent.”

  Henley grimaced, “I figured by his reaction to it that I hit a sore spot. I only made it worse from there, and I don’t know how to fix our relationship.”

  “He's been hurt before, too. That whole situation was awful. It's basically why he's the way he is now.” They were more alike than he originally thought. “As far as fixing it, the only thing you can do is show him he's wrong.” Henley parted his lips to speak, and Everly interrupted his thoughts. “Not tell him, H. Show him.”

  “What do I have to show him exactly? I thought I was doing that.”

  “You two are a lot alike. If roles were reversed, how could someone show you they’re for real?”

  He wouldn’t know what it takes to make someone believe him, because he’s never had to. He also has never needed someone to prove it to him. He sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t know, Ev. I’m not partying or seeing anyone. I keep my hands and lips to myself. What else can I do to prove it to you both?”

  The feeling of her gentle fingers stroking his cheek made his body come to life. “You don’t have anything to prove to me, H. If that was the case, I wouldn’t allow myself to be around you.” He offered her a smile as he leaned into her touch. “In regards to Mace, I’d say, try to get to know him, too.”

  “I’ll give it a shot,” he said softly.

  He reached for her hand and pulled it up to his lips, kissing it once. “Thank you.”

  Her smile was bright and kind, and he had grown so used to having it directed at him. He loved every detail of it.

  “Always,” she breathed.

  Their eyes were connected, and he could feel himself growing warm with the need to kiss her. He missed kissing her.

  Her phone started vibrating and she took her hand back to pick it up. “Ah, speak of the devil and he shall appear.” Her smile turned up, more toward a smirk. “What’s up, trouble?”

  She was listening for a second, and then more sternly she responded to him, “Henley’s here, so if you can’t behave then my answer is no.” He tried to catch her gaze, but she was intensely staring at one spot of her comforter, rolling it between her fingers. Some more time passed before she asked him, “You promise?” There was a sigh and a low hum, “Fine, I’ll see you soon.”

  She hung up the phone, and he asked her if Mason was still mad at him.

  “I don’t care if he’s mad, I don’t condone the fighting between you two today.”

  “Your sternness is turning me on.”

  She released a short laugh, shaking her head at him, “Whatever.”

  Just then, the door downstairs opened and closed. The sound of Mason’s footsteps echoed throughout the house, and he hoped that he wouldn’t disrupt their peace just yet.

  “Moore, you forgot this.” The sleeping bag Pierson had picked out was thrown toward his face. He caught it, blinking up at Mason a few times before he could find the words to respond. Mason walked toward them, “I’m a lover, not a fighter. I don’t want to argue with you. We can work out the details later… Please take this as a truce.”

  After searching Everly’s face for any sign that Mason was doing this to humor either of them, he decided by the way her eyebrows lifted that he was being civil with Henley. It was his move.

  “Truce,” Henley agreed, still a little shocked by how quickly he came around. “I look forward to it, Mace.”

  1

  More to This

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Everly

  The hatchback of her yellow Mini Cooper was full when she closed it. Everly and Henley were heading up to their campsite a day earlier than Mason and Pierson. It was going to be their only opportunity for real quality time once the rest of their group joined them.

  Henley had shown up to help her pack her car, and she couldn’t have been more grateful. She had Mason’s gear, too. Why, she wasn’t sure. Pierson was willing to drive Mason down there, and he had more room in his Volkswagen. She didn’t care to argue it, though. The sun was already up, and glowing off of Henley’s slightly tanned skin. His white button-up fell casually over the waistband of his jeans, and it was obvious he was going for a more comfortable attire to start their trip off.

  “Are you excited to have an extra day alone with me in the wilderness?” Her voice was as happy as she felt in that moment. Everything was great between her and Henley, and they felt like they were only getting better.

  He smiled over the roof of the car at her, “Of course I am.”

  “What shall we do with all of our time?” She pretended to ponder on it, her lip staying curled into a smile.

  "I can think of a few things," The smile that followed was one she was very used to getting now. It was his charming one, trying to lure her into kissing him.

  She pretended to get really excited. “Like s’mores, or hiking! Maybe even swimming!”

  "I do love s'mores." He laughed, his dimples disappearing for a moment. “What if I didn’t bring any swim trunks?”

  Attempting to be aloof, she tossed her keys in his direction and winked before opening the passenger side door. “Why would that stop us from swimming?”

  "Now we're talking."

  Offering him a playful smile in response, she moved to climb into the car. They met as they put their seatbelts on and Henley fired it up to prepare for the drive.

  The campsite was only an hour away, so she knew it would potentially pass by really quickly. They spent the time talking and learning more about each other. She told him about her and Mason making up dance routines to Prince and Michael Jackson when they were younger, and he told her about all-night gaming him and Pierce would pull on their father nights before school.

  It wasn’t long before their exit, and Everly couldn’t help but gaze at Henley’s face. Her eyes re-counted his beauty marks for the millionth time. The smile on her face never falling.

  In the past month, Henley had been a perfect gentleman, and she was finding less and less reasons to not try. In a moment of courage, she slowly reached over and wrapped her fingers with his resting on the shifter. Her eyes lifted from their entwined hand to meet the green of his irises.

  “Is this okay?” she whispered, feeling her heart slam wildly in her chest.

  He looked at their hands then up at her for a moment. The silence between them fostering their tension. “Yes,” he whispered, his throat bobbing slowly.

  They pulled into the site and found their space further into the area. There was exceptional privacy at the spot that Henley chose, and Everly felt her stomach flip in anticipation of their weekend.

  She had her Bluetooth speaker playing upbeat music as they unloaded the car and set up both tents. They worked together to
get it done as efficiently as possible, and she couldn’t help but feel like they made a good team with how their campsite turned out.

  The sun was behind the trees, and the sky was changing from a bright, clear blue to a blend of pink and yellow. It was almost sunset, and Everly couldn’t wait to watch it with Henley.

  “Hey.” She moved to his side as he stood up from putting wood down for the fire they would need when it was dark. Looking up at him, she waited until his eyes were on hers. “Want to watch the sunset with me?”

  His lips pulled to the left, revealing his top teeth in the process. Even in the silence, she felt the tension between them. Her skin ached for contact from him, so she tangled her fingers with his and felt instant relief. The connection made her tingle, and she knew it reflected in her eyes.

  There was a clearing through the trees, with an excellent view of the sky. The sun was close to disappearing behind the mountains, and Everly let her free hand curl around Henley’s bicep as she leaned against him.

  “You picked a great spot,” she whispered, her eyes staring at the harmonious mix of blues, pinks, and purples blending together across the sky. “Thank you for coming away with me for the weekend.”

  The last sliver of the sun over the mountains caused her to sigh in contentment. Henley’s head was resting against hers, their hands still linked, and their bodies relaxed. Being with Henley was as easy as breathing, and even though he frustrated her at times, she enjoyed how consumed her heart and head was with him.

  "If we're being honest, I couldn't think of any place I'd rather be."

  Henley’s voice brought her to the present, and she shifted to look at him. “C’mon, let’s get a fire going. I’m thinking we should roast some marshmallows.” She bit back her lip as she smiled, letting it slowly fall from her teeth.

  They walked back together, still connected by their hands. It felt so natural to be with Henley like this, and she couldn’t help but wonder what had them so cautious in the first place. Everything she liked about Henley originally, she liked even more knowing what got him to that point in his life. It made her crave to be a part of him and his world going forward. Was that such an impossible notion for them?