Page 40 of Small Sacrifices

"It'll be good to be back." He steps into the row of seats in front of theirs. Reid doesn't understand why—it's not like he can sit down there. That's where their luggage is. But Everett seems unbothered. He just rests his forearms on the headrest and leans forward. "But does it have to be this early? You can barely see the sunhere,and we're over the clouds."

Mr. Swayne snorts. "You brought this on yourself, though. If you didn't want to get up this early, you shouldn't have volunteered."

Everett rolls his eyes and continues complaining, but Reid's interest is piqued. Volunteered? Marisol mentioned something similar, but that's not what the governor said yesterday. He made it sound like it was a compromise because Max had to be in school.

And why does—a sound distracts him. His eyes are drawn where Everett is dangling his hands over the headrest, phone held loosely. He keeps tapping it with his fingers. At first, Reid feels a kind of kinship, because that's something that he might do too. But then he realizes that while Everett istalkingto Mr. Swayne, his phone is closer to Reid. And he's tapping on it. Like he wants to attract Reid's attention.Text me.

Reid has to close his eyes against the wave of heat that rolls through him at the realization. The only thing he can think to do is look away and clear his throat. His phone is in his lap, which is convenient. That way, he can just check up on the profiles of the parents they'll be meeting today. Ms. Greene still hasn't posted anything new. It's unnerving.

Everett doesn't stop tapping until Mr. Swayne asks him what he's so nervous about.

"Oh, nothing," he says.

Reid bites his tongue to prevent himself from saying something stupid.

"Are you sure?" Mr. Swayne asks, voice soft. "You're practically vibrating. And I'm pretty sure your father told you to stay by his side."

Did he? That's interesting. One would think that's the way his younger brother would be treated. Everett is about Reid's age, right?

Everett groans. "Don't remind me. I'm already regretting this. But I really just wanted to see you."

Mr. Swayne hums. "Well, now you have. You should really go back before someone misses you. Endure the briefings. We'll see each other quite a lot in the next few days, I think."

The weight of dark brown eyes is heavy on Reid's face. He doesn't look up from the riveting diatribe one father has written about how environmentalist politics, apparently, are to blame for his child being poisoned. It's not particularly convincing, but at least the cursing is creative. He doesn't think he's ever heard anyone being called abean sprout-eating, sanctimonious clusterfucker.A for effort.

Finally, Everett just huffs a goodbye and leaves. Reid listens to the sound of his footsteps until they grow too quiet to hear. Only then does Mr. Swayne speak again.

"You know, you don't need to be afraid of him."

What? Reid raises his head, but Mr. Swayne isn't even looking at him. "I'm sorry?" he asks.

The corner of the man's mouth twitches, and he turns his head. His expression is mild, but his eyes are sharp and way too amused for Reid's taste.

"He can be a bit much sometimes. Trust me, I know. But he's not malicious. Just a bit... chaotic. You don't need to avoid him."

And that's nice, isn't it? It's very nice of him to say. It's just not true. "Mr. Wright said I should."

The look that brings to Mr. Swayne's face is downright appalled. Damn. He shouldn't have said anything. Do Mr. Swayne and Mr. Wright know each other? Even if they don't, Everett and Mr. Swaynedefinitelyknow each other. Going by the note, Everett doesn't know what Mr. Wright said.

But maybe he just doesn't know ityet.Maybe Mr. Wright will tell him, and then he'll agree. Everett is a good-looking guy. There probably hasn't been a shortage of people trying to flirt with him inappropriately. And no matter what Reidthinkshe's doing, if it comes across as flirting… if he were Everett, he wouldn't want random interns flirting with him. Especially considering—well. Reid is a guy. Everett is a guy. Would Everett even want guys to flirt with him in a more neutral setting?

"Mr. Wright said what?"

The question rips Reid out of his spiraling thoughts. When he looks up again, Mr. Swayne has his entire body turned in his seat so that he's facing Reid. The way he's got his eyebrows drawn together almost makes him look concerned. He looks earnest. Reid doesn't trust him.

"Oh, nothing," he says. "It's not important."

That only gets Mr. Swayne to squint at him. "That didn't sound like nothing. You sure?"

"Yes." Reid says it as firmly as he can. Possibly a bit too firm, judging by the widening of Mr. Swayne's eyes. But oh well."But I have a question for you. One of the fathers invited to the mediation seems to be losing it on social media. Do you think I should warn someone? Just in case he turns up?"

The distraction works, which probably should have made Reid suspicious. But it doesn't. That’s why he thinks nothing of it when Mr. Swayne asks him if they'll just stay together for the car ride to the hotel as well, instead of letting him go seek out Mr. Wright like he would have done otherwise. He's already sitting in the car and fishing for the seat belt when Mr. Swayne calls out for Everett to join him.

Reid freezes. He casts a desperate glance at Mr. Swayne's back, but it's too late. Everett, initially reluctant, agrees to join when Mr. Swayne mentions needing a local guide. Reid expects Everett to react negatively upon discovering Mr. Swayne isn't alone, but Everett only registers Reid's presence after he's buckled in, and the car door slams shut.

Everett's face remains impassive as he spots Reid. For a moment, he just stares, then turns to Mr. Swayne. "Is no one else joining us?" he asks, nodding towards the empty fourth seat.

But Mr. Swayne just shakes his head. "We're an uneven number, remember?"

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