Page 100 of Small Sacrifices

There's a pause on the other end of the line that makes him nervous. But when Coleman asks her next question, she sounds like she's smiling. "Ms. Contreras says that this was your first internship right out of college. Is that correct?"

When Reid confirms, she clicks her tongue. "And they didn't even let you stay for a month. Such a shame. Listen, I understand if you want nothing to do with this administration anymore. But would you be willing to come back to work for me? I could use someone with your attention to detail to liaise with the public. Especially in this mess."

"As an intern?" Reid's voice squeaks embarrassingly, but he can't bring himself to care.

"Yes. We'd start a new contract, of course. It looks like they weren't paying you. Now, I can't give you a lot, but I think you've more than proven you'd be a valuable addition to my team. And I firmly believe that good work should be compensated."

Well, that's a relief. But Reid hesitates. "I'm terrible on the phone. Just—you should know that."

She laughs. "Well, now I do."

They talk some more. Reid is worried about how his relationship with Everett might affect her decisions, but she assures him it will not be a problem. Which is a good thing, because the next day, Reid gets roped into the headlines.

He should have known that this would happen when one of the seedier newspapers proudly proclaimed they had secured an exclusive interview with Mr. Wright. But it still shocks him to see the headlines.Intern fired over gay affair with former governor's son - workplace discrimination or workplace misconduct?Well, fuck.

Reid's phone rings before he's even made sense of it for himself. It's his mother. His throat is suddenly so dry that it clicks when he swallows.Right.Better get this over with.

"Are you alright?" she asks, cutting off his greeting. Her voice sounds harried and out of breath. There are footsteps in the background, like she's pacing.

"I'm fine." Reid is surprised to find he means it. His voice is steady, and he smooths the palm of his free hand against his thigh. Even his heartbeat, which he's suddenly very aware of, is calm.

"Don't lie to me! The newspaper said—"

"I don't care what the newspaper says, Mom. They’re lying, anyway. This is a good thing."

His mom sucks in a sharp breath. "Darling, I don't think you understand—"

Aaand that's enough. "Everett is my boyfriend. I quit my job, I wasn’t fired, and he had nothing to do with that. I have a new job already, and I feel a lot better about this one. I understand just fine."

There's a shuffling sound at the other end of the line. "Are you sure? I just don't want you to risk overwhelming yourself, sweetheart. A new job can be very stressful. Maybe you should come back home, let us take care of you for a while."

Reid takes a deep breath and tells himself that she means well. "I'm sure," he says. "I still have ten months to prove that I can do this. And I will, but I can only do that if you let me. Please respect my judgment."

That takes the wind out of her sails. The resulting conversation is surprisingly relaxed. She doesn't second-guess him again. Instead, she wishes him well and even tells him she's proud of him before she hangs up.

It takes Reid a little while after that to realize that they never addressed the thing with Everett after he said they were together. Maybe Briana was right, and it really is a non-issue. But even if it isn't, it can be an issue for another day.

Chapter 36: New Colors

Everett and Max stay in his sister's guest room for two weeks before their mother files for divorce and convinces them it'll be safe to return home. Even then, Everett mostly uses that return for the opportunity to negotiate financial support for the two of them to get their own apartment.

Reid isn't entirely clear on the details, but from what Everett says, he blackmailed their mother into allowing Max to move in with him and covering the costs of their new apartment until Max turns eighteen. She also agrees to financially support any gender-affirming healthcare that Max might want.

A day after celebrating this success by pinning Reid against his apartment door and kissing him breathless, their mother leaves the country again. Everett doesn't discuss it, and Reid doesn't ask. Instead, he lends Max his sister so that they can goon a shopping trip for more feminine clothes while Everett and him go tour apartments.

That is how, on a Saturday four weeks later, Reid finds himself in an empty room, dressed in his rattiest clothes, painting the walls a vibrant sky blue. His arms and shoulders ache from taping the borders to ensure his amateur paint job is somewhat tidy. Yet, there's something soothing about the roller's steady swish across the wallpaper, even with the occasional droplet of paint that lands on him.

Everett and Max have decided to make their home colorful, to get as far away from the sterile white environments of their childhoods as possible. No bland compromises anymore. Everett's room is going to be painted a beautiful dark teal. The walls of the kitchen are already glowing in vibrant apricot tones.

And Max is sketching out the plans for a mural in their own room. They've told Reid that a recent class trip to the botanical garden that they were on with their new class recently inspired them. It's all flowers and vines. Even the broad strokes are beautiful.

Reid is so immersed in his thoughts that he doesn't know Everett has entered the room before he loops his arms around his waist and hugs him from behind. The paint roller slips a bit as Everett kisses his neck, and so Reid gets to carefully put it down to the sound of Everett's laughter, still being held from behind. He lets his head roll over Everett's shoulder and nuzzles right back into him.

"You shouldn't sneak up on me like that," he says, and delights in feeling Everett shudder where he's still got his lips grazing his neck. "That's a nice shirt. I could have ruined it."

Everett chuckles. "Ah, but the more paint you get on me, the better an excuse you have to get me in the shower."

The words send a shiver down Reid's spine, and he has to close his eyes for a moment. They still haven't had sex yet—the moment just hasn't been right. It's not something that Reid wants toplan.Although he's beginning to think they may have to, because he wants Everettso much,but the stars never align for them. Every time they're alone together, he's way too tired for that sort of thing. And when he's not, he's usually over here and helping with the renovations, well within earshot of Everett's sibling.

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