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)
Rhys smirked. “Hmm, not a bad idea.”
“You work today?” Emerson asked.
“Uh-huh. Afternoon shift,” Rhys replied. “What are you guys up to?”
“I think I’m gonna take Sam to that exhibit at the science museum he won’t stop talking about, and Audrey asked to have a friend over.”
“Maddy?” Rhys asked. “Or Kevin?”
Emerson’s gaze snapped to Rhys. “Wait a minute, you know about Kevin?”
“What do you think we talk about on our walks?” Rhys motioned with his hand. “Don’t worry, Mr. Rose, I’m on it. I’ve got you covered.”
“Fuck, thank you.” It was like a weight had been lifted from his chest. He could finally share with someone this responsibility, this constant worry revolving around raising kids.
But did Rhys want it? He used to have a full life before…everything. Emerson pushed those ugly doubts back down and finally bit the bullet. “Can we talk about the elephant in the room?”
Rhys arched a brow. “Your gorgeous cock?”
“Stop it.” Emerson chuckled, a flush forming on his cheeks again. “Be serious.”
“I am being serious.” Rhys lifted Emerson’s hand and kissed his knuckles. “I can’t wait to experience it again, to experience so many things with you.”
“Same.” Emerson couldn’t help but sigh. It was like everything he’d ever wanted to hear, and from someone who might be real partner material. “But how about the other things in your life?”
Rhys huffed out a breath. “You mean climbing, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” he admitted. “It’s okay if you’re not ready to talk about it. I know you’re scared. And I’m here for you.”
“I know you are,” Rhys replied in a brusque tone.
Still, he pushed on. “It’s just…it’s part of you, and I don’t want you to feel like you’re sacrificing anything or losing yourself. Especially if we—”
“Don’t you dare say it,” Rhys warned, and Emerson clamped his mouth shut, felt like a needy asshole. He stayed silent, letting Rhys gather his thoughts and pushing aside that other question, about his moving back across the street. Too much, too soon. “Guess I’m being a daredevil in a different way right now—doing this thing with you.”
It was certainly a chance they were both taking. Emerson swallowed roughly as Rhys’s tone softened.
“And the only thing I can do is take my time. Maybe I’ll want to get back up there again, and maybe not. I’m tired of thinking about it.”
“I hear you. Not stressing about it is a good idea.”
“Says the worrier in the family.”
“Hey!” Emerson grabbed a decorative pillow and lightly scrunched it over his head.
“I’m not wrong, though.” Rhys’s voice was muffled under the material.
No, he absolutely wasn’t.
“What about the kids…actually, Sam,” Rhys said, pitching the pillow to the floor.
“What? You mean telling him about us? Maybe Audrey already did?”
“She hasn’t,” Rhys replied, and Emerson held his tongue. He could be on a need-to-know basis where their relationship was concerned. He trusted Rhys. Trusted him with his life.
Emerson pushed to a sitting position. “Let’s see how the weekend plays out.”
“Sounds like a plan. Here’s another one—I’ll shower here, and you shower upstairs.”
Emerson stood up and reached for his shorts, giving him a knowing look. “As long as you throw these sheets in the laundry straight after.”
He headed upstairs to shower and change, then started breakfast before the kids even stirred. They were apparently sleeping late this morning.
“French toast? Now I’m really hungry,” Rhys remarked, rounding the corner, freshly showered and smelling amazing. “Maybe you should stick to breakfast, and I can make…pretty much everything else.”
There was that spinny feeling inside him again. “Deal.”
Rhys sidled up behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist. Nuzzling his ear, he watched him flip a couple of pieces of bread. Emerson angled his head and pressed their lips together in a long kiss.
“Oh Gawd, my eyes!” Audrey exclaimed as they quickly broke apart. Seriously?
“Warn somebody next time.” Emerson turned toward the frying pan, but not before noting how she was grinning ear to ear. He shook his head, his lips turning up at the corners.
He sighed. He could get used to this.
“What happened?” Sam asked in a sleepy voice, padding into the kitchen.
“I caught them kissing again,” Audrey replied. He heard a gasp and then silence as he turned to see her hand over her mouth, eyes wide, and Sam scrunching his nose.
“It’s okay,” Rhys said, throwing Emerson a now-is-probably-the-time look.
Emerson carefully placed the spatula down, trying to bolster his courage. “Sam, Rhys and I—”
Are together? Dating? Boyfriends?
Damn, that sounded good.
“Love each other,” Sam replied, waving his hand. “Duh, who wouldn’t know that?” He rolled his eyes for effect, then shuffled toward a stool. “I’m hungry. What’s for breakfast?”
Emerson, Rhys, and Audrey stood frozen in place.
“Well, that was easier than I thought it would be,” Emerson finally said, breathing a sigh of relief.
Then they got on with their day.
29
Rhys
“What’s this?” Emerson asked as Rhys slid a flyer toward him soon after he walked in the door from work. It was Thursday, and only the second time all week Rhys had been able to join them for dinner.