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)
“Even when I didn’t think I had a chance with you, I was already in love with your courage, your resolve, and your heart. And then having the opportunity—twice—to act on those feelings? That’s lucky. To get to hold you and kiss you. To watch you give yourself to me? That was a gift.”
Emerson could barely fucking breathe, his entire body trembling.
“It’s always been you, Em, for me.” He stared straight into Emerson’s eyes. “And maybe it took my accident to realize it. Maybe not. Life is so fucking strange sometimes.”
Emerson’s lips parted, and words—an entire litany of them—got clogged in his throat as Rhys searched his eyes. He felt his heart begin dusting itself off, glinting through the cracks, a soft glow radiating from the depths.
Rhys stood up, swiped at his knees and the seat of his pants. “And I know you’re taking your time—apparently taking a lot of it.” He shook his head, muttering the word stubborn. “I know you’re terrified because I left that night and you don’t know why. I don’t think it was for the reasons you believe, but I won’t argue that with you. I still think I would’ve come to the same conclusion as now. So I’m asking you to please take a chance on me—on us. A leap of faith.”
Emerson’s chest jammed with emotion, his stomach in a free fall all its own, as fat tears rolled down his cheeks and he attempted to swipe them away with the heel of his hand.
But he couldn’t stop the onslaught of overwhelming sensations bombarding his body all at once. He’d spent weeks doubting, pining, aching, for the gorgeous guy standing in front of him, only to have it culminate in this one moment, and his body responded by shedding more waterworks.
Goddamn it.
“Rhys, I—”
Suddenly Sam was shouting in excitement as he and Audrey climbed atop the boulder and back into their space. It felt crowded again, and Emerson took a step back so he could breathe.
“We followed them as far as we could, but they went up into the canopy of trees.”
“They probably found others just like them,” Audrey added.
“Well, these two have been lagging behind. They might need help finding their friends.” Rhys motioned to the two monarchs perched on a nearby boulder together, slowing flapping their wings as if enjoying the warm breeze.
“Ooh, maybe that means something!” Sam exclaimed, padding closer to study them.
Audrey chuckled. “Like what?”
“Maybe it’s a sign. Mom and Dad checking on us or something.” He motioned toward the creatures as if his words didn’t just deliver a blow. “Some people believe in that stuff.”
Well, fuck. That did it. Now Emerson was furiously swiping at his eyes.
Audrey looked stricken. “Em, is everything…what’s wrong?”
He shut his eyes, completely overwhelmed. “I’m just feeling some things.”
She stepped up and wound her arms around him, buried her head in his shoulder. Then Sam joined in, snaking his arms around his waist from behind. A moment later he felt stronger, ropey arms thrown around them all, and he breathed out in relief, melting into Rhys’s solid frame, feeling so many fucking things, but mostly like he was home.
They stayed that way until a bubble of laughter arose inside Emerson, and it became contagious. Before he knew it, they were all snickering, then finally breaking apart and gathering their things. When he made eye contact with Rhys, he looked luminous, so damned alive, like the rays of sunlight were filtering through him.
Emerson had the urge to kiss him, to taste some of that afterglow from his lips. Maybe it would radiate through him as well and finally fill his empty spaces with peace.
As they jumped down from the boulder, he turned to look one last time, but their two colorful visitors were already gone.
27
Rhys
They took their time getting home. There was more sightseeing through the park, then a stop for handmade custard before agreeing to grab a late lunch at a roadside diner. And it felt… Fuck, it felt so good, like Rhys was part of their family but in a truer sense now.
He wasn’t exactly sure what changed, except that releasing those butterflies was liberating—therapeutic, even—along with admitting his feeling to Emerson. And when Emerson cried… Damn, those tears almost made Rhys start bawling too. And though Emerson didn’t get the chance to say anything back, Rhys felt at peace with his confession, especially since every time their eyes met, the flush on Emerson’s cheeks would deepen all over again. That was enough to keep his spirits up for now.
Because even if Emerson took more of his good old fucking time, Rhys knew with raw certainty that he held an essential place in Emerson’s heart. Knew in his gut that they meant something to each other, something goddamned profound.
He’d deal with the imminent onslaught of emotions later that night, and maybe he’d doubt his intuition again or fear he’d been wrong. At the moment, though, there was little time to think, because the kids were full of energy, as if releasing the butterflies had been cleansing for them as well.