Author here, I could have sworn I cleared up Elana's thoughts and italicized them, per another reader's suggestions, and tossed out the quotations. Either I missed those or gave you the wrong one. Rhys's teasing about Elana being into other women was the "Elana looked Phy up and down" and now that I hear your questioning it's clear that something more needs to be clear about Elana's sexuality.
Author here, I could have sworn I cleared up Elana's thoughts and italicized them, per another reader's suggestions, and tossed out the quotations. Either I missed those or gave you the wrong one.
Rhys's teasing about Elana being into other women was the "Elana looked Phy up and down" and now that I hear your questioning it's clear that something more needs to be clear about Elana's sexuality.