More to This

by Tess Keeler

  “Ooo, another free show,” Mason said excitedly.

  Henley couldn’t help but smile, pulling back to break the kiss. He kept his face close, brushing her lips with his. “I’m right here.”

  The way his heart accelerated was borderline pathetic.

  “How long have you two been together?” The smoothness of Tanner’s voice was too perfect, and it was raking on what little patience Henley had left.

  “Officially?” Henley asked, not looking away from his only source of composure.

  “They aren’t together,” Mason said, matter-of-fact. “They’ve always been like this.”

  Tanner’s smile was growing, Henley catching it out of the corner of his eyes. Acid formed knots in his stomach.

  “We’re not official yet, but I’m here with him,” Everly said calmly.

  Mason released a sound but no words, and Henley turned to catch the weirdest expression. How little did Mason really know? They were nearly inseparable.

  Pierson was roasting a marshmallow, baked out of his mind. He wasn’t giving them the time of day. His brother… cool as a fucking cucumber.

  Henley let Everly know that he was ready to go lie down for the night, that he just needed a cigarette and to relieve himself beforehand. After telling him that she was ready to, they excused themselves, Everly going to the tent, and Henley to pee. Pierson ate the marshmallow he had and announced he was going to grab his things. Why hadn’t he done that before?

  When Henley returned to the site, only Mason remained. He was sitting in a chair by the fire, his curls pulled over his face, a cigarette between his fingers.

  “May I join you?” Henley asked, lighting one for himself.

  He presented the seat next to him, but never met his gaze. His companion was looking for someone as Henley took the first couple of drags. It was just what he needed to let it all go for the night.

  “Does your brother like Tanner?”

  Henley couldn’t believe the words coming out of Mason’s mouth.

  “It’s just that… It was only supposed to be us four, and then he invited him out of nowhere.”

  Henley shook out his hair, trying to think of a way to break the news. It wasn’t his to tell.

  “Mason, I promise it’s not like that.”

  “Does Pierce even like guys?” He was clearly upset and doubting himself. Henley hated seeing him lose his contagious, and sometimes annoying, confidence.

  “My brother would be lucky to have you, Mace.” His hand found his friend’s knee, and he squeezed it gently. “Seriously.”

  Mason’s toothy smile was directed at him, their eyes locked as he thanked Henley.

  “Get out of here!” Everly screamed.

  Both men stood, dropping their cigs and stomping on them as they approached the tent she was in. Henley ripped the zipper downward and flew in without a second thought. He couldn’t see her behind the mass of Tanner’s wide muscular shoulders. Everly could handle herself, but it didn’t stop him from yanking on the man’s shirt hard enough to make him stumble.

  “What’s your fucking problem?” Henley hissed, urging him to face him.

  “I’ve always had Henley’s sloppy seconds. I need to know if I had you first.” His laugh was tight and piercing. “For once, Henley will have had mine.”

  Mason and Pierson were shuffling behind Henley, trying to see what was going on? “What the bloody hell is he talking about?”

  “Hen, let us in.”

  Blue eyes stared him down, and the sick amusement on his face made Henley’s fist clench. “She’s going to think about me as you pound into her. How does that make you feel, Moore?”

  “You’re sick,” Henley spat.

  Tanner stepped a little closer to Henley, breathing into his face. “You know it drives you crazy.”

  “Oh for fuck’s sake, Henley. Move.” Mason pushed him out of the way and took Tanner out with one loud hit.

  Pierson dragged Tanner out by his feet, his hands covering his face as he groaned. “Mason, a little help please.”

  He darted his eyes at both Henley and Everly, judging him with his slender finger as well, “This wouldn’t have happened if you two would just figure your shit out.” And then he was gone.

  Maybe he was right.

  “Ev, are you okay?”

  They were alone again. Everly was picking at her nails, her eyes on the ground.

  “I’m not going to lie. I’m a little pissed,” her tone alone could slice him in half.

  He kept his soft, to help bring her down despite the raging fire inside of him, “He’s right you know.”

  She snapped her head in his direction, absolutely disgusted with his opinion. “Excuse me?”

  “Mason’s right. If we would just admit what we want, we wouldn’t be causing all of this…” His hands moved with his words, giving her the scene again in a display. “Drama.”

  “What do you want, Henley?” she asked him, still irritated.

  “I want you to be mine, and only mine.” He lifted one side of his lips. “What do you say?”

  1

  More to This

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Everly

  Mason let the cigarette hang carelessly between his first two fingers as he smiled at his best friend. She draped her legs over the oversized chair’s arm, swinging them as she sipped on the drink in her hand. “Bloody hell, it’s about time.”

  Everly rolled her eyes, but her smile never faltered. Being able to say that she was Henley’s girlfriend was blissful, and it made her feel weightless. They had been through so much unnecessary pain and heartache; the commitment wasn’t nearly as scary as it seemed it would’ve been.

  “Nothing’s ever really made more sense.” She chewed her lip, feeling herself soften to a vulnerable state in front of her best friend. “He makes me really happy, Mace.”

  Mason’s smile transformed into a smirk. “I get it, Eve. I’m very happy for you.” He pushed the small stub of tobacco into the ashtray beside him before speaking again. “It really is a long time coming.”

  It had only been two days since that night in the tent. Where everything changed. She had been so angry from their encounter with Tanner, her head and heart still reeling from their intimate connection just moments before their coveted safe space was invaded. With thirteen words, he melted the anger away. Her heart leapt when his walls finally fell enough to let her in. Fully in.

  In typical form, she responded with a sweet, “duh”, before kissing him. She forgot about Tanner, and what he said. She didn’t care that they were stuck there with his twin and her best friend. All she cared about was the confirmation that neither of them was scared anymore. Life seemed much easier to handle with Henley by her side; together, they could get through anything, and the past had proven that.

  Henley had class, so Mason and Everly had decided to hang out until he was out. It was nice to spend time with him; it was growing strange to her when she was alone, now.

  “How’s everything going with Pierson?” Everly let Henley stay tucked away her in thoughts, occasionally texting him when he would respond. She tried to not distract him from his lecture, but she couldn’t help herself.

  Mason sighed, running his free hand through his thick, curly hair. His expression contorted, and he lifted his shoulders before letting them fall, almost in defeat. “Fine. We’re mates, but not the kind of mates I’d like.” He laughed at himself, and she knew he was trying to mask a little of the pain he was attempting not to wear on his sleeve in front of her.

  She pulled her lips together, not sure of what to say at the moment. While she had spent some time with Pierson, she didn’t really know him enough to know if he was interested in Mason. He was friendly with Mason, sure. They hung out a lot. But, they had a lot of the same interests. Smoking, drinking, playing video games, music. Mason had even taken more of an interest in botany, Pierson’s course of study; and Pierson had agreed to do a few photoshoots with Mason. They seemed genuin
ely interested in each other, and to enjoy each other’s company. Maybe she should ask Henley about it later.

  “You two get along very well,” she commented, watching his face as it stayed in its sad, puppy dog downward pull.

  Mason moved his head in a disregarding way, lighting another cigarette before he took a long hit into his lungs. He blew it out slowly. “I don’t want to lose him, Eve.”

  The admission took Everly off guard. She was so used to her best friend fucking away his pain. “You really like him, don’t you?” The conversation was a rare, serious one. Before the Moore twins, they had heart to hearts— but they felt more intense now. More real.

  “Eve,” he started, lifting his brown eyes to meet hers. “I feel broken. It’s been so long since someone has affected me like this.” With a sigh, he adjusted in his seat and continued. “I have no interest in slagging off with all these randoms. All I want is Pierson to occupy all of my time, even if it’s never sexual.”

  Everly studied her best friend’s features; she hadn’t seen him like this, ever. Not even with Sawyer.

  Sawyer. He did a number on Mason, using him for his closeted satisfaction, staying in his hetero-normative relationship. When Sawyer’s girlfriend, Angela, found out at the beginning of their senior year about their secret, she told everyone— and blamed Mason for all of it. That Mason seduced Sawyer even though he knew he had a long time girlfriend.

  That’s when his reputation started.

  It was just easier after that not to get seriously involved, because no one took him seriously in the relationship sense.

  What they never knew was Mason was crazy about Sawyer— the first male he was ever with.

  Sawyer knew his power over Mason and used it to get anything and everything he wanted.

  Now, here Mason was, his crush on Pierson seeping from his pores.

  “Pierson would be a fool not to see how great you are, Mace.” Everly rested her hand on her friend’s arm, offering him a reassuring smile. “He obviously enjoys spending time with you.”

  Mason nodded, flashing her the smallest smile he had. “Enough of all that, how are your parents taking the news of you having a boyfriend?”

  “They don’t know yet.” She casually grabbed the bag of sour patch kids and popped one in her mouth.

  Tilting his head to the side, her best friend gave her a disapproving look. “Are you afraid they’re going to freak out?” He paused, then laughed as he added, “Correction, are you afraid of your mum freaking out?”

  Everly’s mom, Ella, was successful, beautiful, and very smart. Her expectations for Everly were as high as she had set for herself. Being two years older than Everly’s father, Noah, Ella was graduating with a bachelors in Communication Studies from Vanderbilt University in Nashville when she met her future husband. In celebration of their graduation, Ella and a small group of her fraternity sisters hit a bar crawl in Music Row. Noah was playing a small show at one of the bars, and the rest was history. Noah’s music career took off a few months later, and Ella made her schedule as a human resource manager work to visit Noah as frequently as possible. On their one year anniversary, Noah proposed at her favorite restaurant in Nashville. Three months after their extravagant wedding ceremony, Everly decided to join them.

  Until Everly was 11, Ella stayed a successful HR director at Starbucks, while Noah toured 10 months out of the year. It wasn’t long before Ella moved on from her human resource position, and followed her dream to become a stewardess. She loved to travel and see the world, and while it wasn’t useful of her degree, she had never been happier with a job. This new career move allowed her to see Noah a lot more often. After relocating to Westminster, Colorado, Everly began mostly fending for herself; Mason was the most consistent family in her life.

  All her life, her mother wanted Everly to be just as pristine and perfect as she set out to be. Her father was more down to earth and the life of a party, wanting Everly to enjoy life, whilst keeping a responsible head on her shoulders. They balanced each other flawlessly.

  Everly straightened her back, lifting her shoulders. “I really like Henley, hopefully, that’s all that matters to them.”

  “Or it’ll make them worry more,” he scoffed, giving her a wink as he breathed in more nicotine.

  ————

  Everly hugged her legs to her chest as the phone against her ear rang. She was chewing her lip and trying to prepare what she was going to say exactly. Telling her father first made her a lot less anxious than telling her mother. This was her very first relationship; the unknown was making her more nervous than any other fact.

  On the fourth ring, her father’s happy go lucky voice finally graced the speaker.

  “Everly! Hey, baby girl. How are you?”

  Her father’s voice made her tense a little more, even though his tone was upbeat.

  “Hey, dad. I’m good. How are you?”

  He cleared his throat, the background loud behind him. “Things are wild. I’m ready to see your mom next week. Wish I could convince you to fly out for a weekend.”

  Everly felt her lips pull downward. She really did miss her parents, especially her father. The hustle and bustle of his busy life was overwhelming to her mentally. “I’m sorry, dad. Maybe soon?”

  “Actually, I was going to call tomorrow to ask you..” he began, and it was obvious he was walking away from the chaos. “The Gala is coming up, and I would really love it if you could fly up to New York for it. Your mom’s going to be there, too. It’ll be a nice, family gathering.”

  Everly chewed her lip a moment. It wouldn’t be her first Gala, but it could be her first with a real date. Telling her father now was as good a time as any.

  “I would consider coming,” She paused, trying to decide her next words carefully. “If you’d be okay if I brought someone.”

  Her father laughed, “Mason is always welcome.”

  “Not Mason,” she corrected, bracing herself.

  “Oh? Then who?”

  She licked her drying lips. “His name is Henley. He’s my boyfriend.”

  “Boyfriend, huh?” Her father’s voice shifted, curiosity coating his tone. “I need some facts this guy. And a timeline? And does Mason approve? Don’t lie, because I will call that boy myself and ask.”

  Everly sucked in a breath, a small smile pulling at her lips. “He’s twenty, he goes to University in Boulder like I do.”

  “How’d you meet him?” Her father interjected.

  “A party.”

  Noah scoffed, “Not a good start.”

  “Dad, can I finish please?” She laughed lightly, twisting her long hair around her first two fingers.

  “Alright, alright. Continue.”

  “Thank you.” Her fingers pulled themselves from her hair, only to repeat the action again. “He’s an English major, working towards his master degree. He has a twin brother, who Mason is obsessed with.” Her father laughed. “We’ve known each other since St. Patricks Day, and we’ve been really good friends since. We finally decided to ruin everything and commit.”

  Her father laughed again, amused by his daughter and the story of how her first relationship blossomed. She was thankful that she got her sense of humor from him.

  “Has he ever been to NYC?” Noah asked, and immediate relief washed over Everly.

  “You know, I don’t think he has.” Everly knew he had traveled a little bit, but she wasn’t entirely sure where. “Are you saying he can come?”

  He sighed playfully— long and drawn out. “I hope you guys are serious enough that meeting your parents isn’t too weird.”

  Everly bit her bottom lip through her smile. “I guess we’ll find out.”

  “If he says no, I’d strongly reconsider your choices.”

  “Dad!” Her voice going up an octave. “There’s no pressure here. If he isn’t ready, that’s understandable.”

  “Lee, you know I’m teasing.” His comment got cut off by someone addressing him. “Darling,
I’ve got to go. I’m sorry. But let me know what lover boy says as soon as possible. The Gala is in three weeks.”

  Everly nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “Got it. Love you, dad.”

  “Love you, Lee. Text me tomorrow.”

  Their goodbyes were as quick as their calls, but she was excited to possibly show Henley around the Big Apple.

  As soon as the phone was ready for another call, she hit her favorites section to get her to Henley quicker. The excitement was getting the best of her, so she took a deep breath before the all familiar voice greeted her.

  “Hey.” His voice was soft and warm, but still seductive. She didn’t know how he did it so effortlessly.

  “Hey, H.” She responded in a tone to match. Her face heated up as she adjusted into a ball in her oversized chair. “Have you ever wanted to go to New York?” Straight to the point, why not?

  A small pause came before his voice returned. “I’ve never thought about it. Why do you ask?”

  “Well, I may have told my dad about us today.” She pursed her lips a moment as she heard him release a breath.

  “How did he take it?”

  She wrapped her free arm around her knees. “He asked me a lot of questions. Then he invited you to accompany me to The Gala in New York in three weeks.”

  “I’m not good with parents, Ev.” The nerves burned through his words.

  The breath she didn’t know she was holding blew through her lips, as she tried to figure out a response. “There’s no pressure, baby. But you’re going to have to meet them eventually. Unless you’re not planning for this to be long term.” By teasing him, she hoped she would be able to lighten the mood a little.

  There was a longer stretch of silence before Henley finally let his thoughts form words. “How long are we talking?”

  “We’d fly out Thursday, and come back Monday.”

  “I’ll do it.” His words surprised her.

  She felt her features pull towards the center of her face. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel like you have to. I was just teasing you, H.”