“It’s a popular road for bikers,” Rhys said, glaring at Scott. “It’s got over three hundred curves in just eleven miles.”
Thomas felt a surge of excitement at the thought. He’d wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle for years, but it was something he hadn’t gotten around to doing yet. When he’d had the time to learn, he didn’t have the money to invest in a decent motorcycle. Now he had the money, but not the time.
“I didn’t know you ride,” he said.
“He and Andy used to ride the trails around here all the time,” Scott said. “They’d take a whole weekend to ride the entire Blue Ridge Parkway.”
Rhys smiled, but pain lurked in the depths of his eyes. “That was one of our favorite things to do, especially in the fall once the leaves changed.”
“We don’t have to,” Thomas said, clasping Rhys’s hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Rhys by making him face painful memories.
“If Rhys won’t take you, I will,” Scott said eagerly. “I’ve got a Harley and a spare helmet.”
“I’ll take you,” Rhys said, a growl underlying his voice, and he tightened his fingers around Thomas’s. “I’ve still got my motorcycle and a couple of helmets.”
“Great!” Scott bounced up and down on his toes, beaming. “When do we want to go?”
“We?” Thomas and Rhys spoke in unison, and they both stared at Scott, who looked back and forth between them.
“Is that a problem?” Scott asked.
“Uh…” Thomas gazed at Rhys in mute appeal. He’d prefer any excursions remain between the two of them, especially if it involved him getting to plaster himself against Rhys’s broad back and cling to Rhys’s waist while they drove along twisting mountain roads.
Rhys shrugged at Thomas. “I guess not,” he said, his lack of enthusiasm evident in his voice, but Scott was either oblivious or he chose to ignore it.
“How about tomorrow?” Scott suggested. “If you don’t want to tackle the Tail of the Dragon just yet, we could hit Diamondback 226 or part of the parkway.”
“Thomas and I will talk about it tonight,” Rhys said. “I’ll text you in the morning about when and where to meet up. It’s pretty safe to say we won’t want to leave before ten, though.”
“Sounds good!” Scott finally left them alone and went to join the cluster of men by the grill.
As soon as Scott was out of earshot, Thomas rounded on Rhys. “I’m not riding with him,” he said firmly. “So don’t get any ideas about pawning me off on your cousin.”
“I won’t.” Rhys drew an X over his heart. “Believe me, I’m not thrilled about having him tag along, but if I said no, I’d probably have Mama and Aunt Marion on my ass about excluding him,” he said with a grimace, and Thomas got the impression he was speaking from experience.
“I guess it won’t hurt to let him join us this once,” Thomas said.
But if Scott tried to intrude on his plans with Rhys again, Thomas would go straight to Viv and make plaintive noises about not getting enough private time with his boyfriend. If that didn’t solve the problem, nothing would.
