“Jesus, Rhys, not this again.” Thomas felt like he could tear his hair out. “I’m not a teenager, for God’s sake. Hell, I’m not even twenty-something! I’m an adult, and I can make my own decisions about who is or isn’t appropriate for me age-wise.”
“You said I shouldn’t try to make decisions for you.” Rhys stared at Thomas, his eyes dull. “What about you? Why should you get to make decisions for me? Why is it okay for you to push me into—” He grimaced and looked away.
“Into what?” Thomas clenched his fists, and the bite of his fingernails in his palms was the only thing keeping him from screaming with frustration. “Say it, Rhys. I’m a big boy. I can handle the truth.”
“Into something I don’t want!” Rhys sat up straight, seeming almost defiant. “I thought I was ready, but it was only because you and Mama kept pushing me. I’m not ready. I may never be ready.”
Thomas swallowed hard against the knot of disappointment, heartbreak, and loss rising in his throat, and he lifted his chin proudly, determined not to let Rhys see how much damage he’d inflicted. “I’m sorry for my part in that. It was never my intention to hurt you or make you feel coerced.”
“You know what they say about good intentions.”
“Well.” Thomas took a couple of steps away from Rhys and toward the stairs. “If you’re going to come clean to Viv, I suppose that means my role here is finished. Time to make my exit.”
“Thomas…” A flash of guilt crossed Rhys’s face, and he stood up and stretched out a conciliatory hand. “I really am sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have dragged you into my mess.”
“No, you shouldn’t have,” Thomas said, ignoring Rhys’s hand. He was too angry to extend or accept any olive branches. All he wanted was to hole up somewhere alone and start patching up his broken heart. “But I shouldn’t have agreed to it either. I’m going to pack. I’ll see if I can get a room somewhere until I can change my flight.”
“You don’t have to go to a hotel,” Rhys said as he pushed himself to his feet, watching Thomas with concern.
“I’m not staying here,” Thomas said flatly. He couldn’t bear the thought of spending another night under Rhys’s roof, even if it meant sleeping on a bench somewhere.
“Then go to my parents’ house.”
“Why? So you don’t have to feel as guilty about using me?” Thomas knew he was being unfair, but he didn’t care at the moment. Judging from the way Rhys winced, his barb struck hard.
“I’d feel better if I knew you weren’t alone,” Rhys said quietly, turning his gaze to the floor.
Thomas almost blurted out that he didn’t give a flying fuck what would make Rhys feel better, but he bit back the words. Retreating to Viv and Charles’s house was probably foolish, but it was also appealing. He’d developed his own relationship with Viv and basked in her easy acceptance. Not to mention, he didn’t particularlywantto be alone.
“Fine,” he said. “If you don’t want Viv hearing the truth from me, I’d suggest calling her while I pack.”
Rhys grimaced, but Thomas turned his back and headed to the stairs. He paused with his foot on the first step and glanced over his shoulder.
“You and Scott,” he said, trying and failing to keep the bitterness out of his voice. “You’re both assholes, and neither of you deserve me.”
With that, he went upstairs and left Rhys to deal with the consequences of his choices alone.
