Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Halfway through the first episode, Rhys turned to him. “Em?”
“Yeah?”
“Audrey told me you were asked to another game.” Emerson held his breath. They must’ve discussed it before he got home. “I think you should go. I’ll hold down the fort around here.”
Emerson didn’t immediately respond, and tension thickened and swirled around them.
“We’ll see,” he finally replied, and noticed Rhys letting out a quick breath.
They turned toward the screen, probably sitting closer than two friends normally would. But this was them—Em and Rhys—their shoulders flush, their skin warm and tingling, just the way Emerson liked.
19
Rhys
The playoff game was on a Saturday afternoon, and according to Neil, who had stepped inside to greet them again, it was a best-of-five series, with the last three matchups farther away, at the opponents’ stadium. So the opportunity to attend the first two games was pretty awesome.
And as Rhys told him exactly that, Neil had given Rhys the once-over—no way to dispute it—then yet again had placed his hand on the small of Emerson’s back on the landing, which made Rhys’s fist clench.
Emerson seemed excited about the game but also sort of edgy as he ushered Neil out the door, throwing Audrey a warning look as she pouted at the kitchen island.
He wasn’t sure why Audrey was acting so cranky, unless she also suspected their outing was a date. And if that was true, then Audrey also knew about Emerson’s sexuality. Still, Neil seemed like a nice enough guy, so Rhys wasn’t sure why she was holding a grudge against him.
Unless she feared that Emerson dating someone would mean less family time? But if she knew anything about her brother, it was that he was loyal and dependable and would no doubt give up a relationship in a heartbeat if there was even the hint of an ultimatum.
Now Rhys felt even more guilty about that bubble of jealousy that had surfaced when Emerson greeted Neil at the door, wearing tight jeans, the same Rockets sweatshirt—no doubt because of superstition—and with his shiny auburn hair styled away from his forehead, which only made it seem like he’d put in more effort. The guy was too handsome for his own good.
Rhys’s feelings for his best friend had obviously transformed since the accident. It was probably all the togetherness, but he was viewing Emerson in a new light. And it was killing him, especially now that he knew about his sexuality. The attraction he’d long buried in their youth had suddenly materialized, and the more Rhys pictured him and Neil sitting closely in the stands, the more his gut churned. Fuck.
So he kept himself busy by dusting surfaces and vacuuming rugs and asking the kids to straighten their rooms so Emerson could cross some chores off his to-do list.
Then he rounded up the laundry, and after putting a load in the washer, he sat beside Sam and inquired about his science-based computer game, where he was busy creating his own galaxies. Pretty cool stuff.
He watched as Audrey texted and smiled at her phone practically all afternoon, and he shook his head, wondering if he’d looked much the same at that age.
“Aunt Janice wants to know if we want to spend the night,” Audrey said in an excited tone, holding up her cell.
“Sam?” Rhys asked, and he nodded absently, distracted by his game. “Okay. Let me check with Emerson.”
He fished out his phone to text him.
Can the kids have a sleepover with their cousins?
Sure!
He felt weirdly satisfied at the immediate response.
Cool, we’ll let her know.
Once the arrangements were set, Rhys felt oddly hollow when he should’ve felt anything but. The kids would be leaving in a couple of hours, and he didn’t know how long Emerson would be out with Neil, so he was free to do whatever the hell he wanted. Not enjoying the unsettling feeling, he lifted his phone to scroll to an earlier text from Lance, asking if he wanted to meet for a drink. He didn’t even realize until last week that Lance had quit working at Flying High and was now a deejay at Sneaky Pete’s, so they obviously had plenty to catch up on.
My plans have changed. I’d love to meet you.
The rest of the afternoon flew by, and before he knew it, Audrey was pacing nervously in front of the entryway, tension rolling off her, as she waited for Aunt Janice to pick them up.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” she replied with a sideways glance out the window. “I’m just anxious to see my cousins.”
But something seemed off. When he placed his hands on her shoulders, she relaxed a bit. “You sure about that?”
Her gaze dropped to her feet. “I dunno.”
“Does this have anything to do with you being grumpy earlier?”
“I just want to be picked up before Emerson and Neil get home.”
Yep, definitely grumpy about something or someone.