Chapter 16
“Good afternoon, everyone. We’re beginning our descent into Asheville, where the temperature is a crisp fifty-seven degrees. Please return your seats and tray tables into the upright and locked positions. Flight attendants, prepare for arrival check.”
Thomas pushed the button to straighten his seat, then glanced out the window next to his shoulder at the clouds. He didn’t believe in portents, but having the ground below obscured from view seemed symbolic for what he was getting himself into by agreeing to see Rhys again. If, in fact, Rhys even showed up.
The last four weeks had been murderous, though Thomas was grateful for the long days on the movie set, which demanded his focus and attention and helped wear him out so much that all he could do at night was fall into an exhausted slumber. Thoughts of Rhys invariably intruded from time to time, especially after his email and the video call. Thomas still wasn’t certain Rhys meant what he’d said, and he didn’t want to get his hopes up only to have them once again crushed by Rhys’s inability to move on with his life.
Hearing Rhys say he wasn’t willing to give their relationship a try after all had hurt even more than Thomas expected, probably because he’d let himself believe Rhys had meant what he’d said at the resort. The energy of righteous anger had propelled him through packing and marching over to Viv and Charles’s house, where Viv was waiting for him with a stiff drink and a shoulder to cry on. He hadn’t felt much like crying at first until he began telling her what happened. Once the story started pouring out, so had the tears — and the truth.
“I’m in love with him,” he’d said, and Viv had put a hand over his, and replied, “Yes, dear, I know.”
Things after that were a bit of a blur, as Viv kept the bourbon coming. She’d waved off his apologies for messing up the reunion and told him to take her guest room and get some sleep. The next day, he’d moved up his flight to Barcelona, and Charles had driven him to the airport.
And now here he was, a month later, flying back to Asheville, without any idea if joy or sorrow awaited him.
Once the plane was on the ground, Thomas shouldered his duffle bag and took his carryon out of the overhead compartment. He consoled himself that if Rhys didn’t show, all he had to do was head to the nearest and get the first flight he could find headed back to New Mexico.
Ten minutes later, he’d reached the end of the pier. He passed the security guard and looked around at the happy groups of people greeting their loved ones, hoping Rhys would be there and telling himself sternly it was stupid to hope.
But then he caught sight of a tall, broad-shouldered figure approaching the gate, and his pulse began to race. He threaded his way through the crowd and found himself face-to-face with Rhys, who was watching him with a blend of hope and apprehension flickering across his face.
“Hey,” Rhys said softly, almost hesitantly.
“Hey.” Thomas’s own voice was husky, and he drew in a deep breath to help calm his nerves. Just because Rhys was here, it didn’t mean things were going to work out. Rhys could have shown up to let him down gently.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’d say when I saw you,” Rhys said, watching Thomas’s face intently. “I tried to come up with different scenarios and different things I could say or do that might influence the outcome because I was afraid of what might happen. But then I realized I don’t have any control in this situation. You hold all the power right now, so all I can do is be honest and hope for the best. So…” Rhys clasped Thomas’s hands and held them tightly. “I’ve been seeing a grief counselor since we talked, and if you want to see a couple’s counselor, I’m willing to do that too. I’ll do whatever it takes to regain your trust because I’m falling in love with you.”
Thomas held Rhys’s hands, returning the almost painful grip. “You’re sure?” He searched Rhys’s face, looking for any signs of doubt or hesitation. “I mean it, Rhys, you’rereallysure this time? You’re not just saying what you think I want to hear?”
“I’m sure,” Rhys said. “I’m so sure, I’m willing to let Mama take a photo of the two of us together and post it all over her social media with the caption, ‘my son and his handsome boyfriend’.”
The hope Thomas had been afraid to feel rose up in him, and he smiled. “Okay, I’ll believe you. But as God is my witness, Rhys Sutton, if you hurt me like that again, I’ll kick your ass from here to New Mexico… andthenI’ll set Viv on you. Do you understand?”
“If I’m enough of a dumbass to hurt you like that again, I’ll deserve it,” Rhys said, releasing Thomas’s hands but only so he could wrap his arms around Thomas’s waist instead. “Does that mean you forgive me?”
“I forgive you, and more than that… I love you.” Thomas held his breath, watching for Rhys’s reaction, a part of him still afraid Rhys might turn tail and run away screaming.
Rhys didn’t run away. He let out a whoop and then pulled Thomas close and captured his lips in a kiss infused with both joy and affection.
Thomas closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around Rhys and returning the kiss. He let Rhys’s warmth fill the hurt and empty places he’d been carrying around for a month, knowing that while he’d been away from Rhys for the last several weeks, his heart had stayed in Asheville.
He pulled back and looked up at Rhys. “What do you say we get out of here and go back to your house? Then you can make it all up to me.” He paused. “But I warn you, if Scott shows up, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
“Scott won’t be showing up at my house anymore,” Rhys said, a hard edge in his voice. “I’ve gone no contact with him and blocked him everywhere I can. He’s not welcome at my parents’ house anymore either. Mama and Aunt Marion aren’t speaking because of it, but Mama won’t back down.”
Thomas was sorry for Viv, and he regretted being the cause of stress for her, but he didn’t feel any sympathy for Scott at all. “Good. He’s a snake, and I don’t think I could bring myself to be civil to him, even for Viv’s sake. So let’s put him out of our minds. I’d rather think about you getting me naked and in your bed as soon as possible.”
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Rhys said, a heated gleam in his eyes. He released Thomas, but only long enough to clasp his hand again and twine their fingers. “Do you need to stop by baggage claim?”
“No, I have everything here.” Thomas squeezed Rhys’s hand, unable to keep the wide smile of happiness off his face. “Let’s go. I suspect I won’t need any clothes at all for a few days. Right?”
“Not if I have anything to say about it.” Rhys took Thomas’s carryon in his free hand and headed toward the exit.
On the drive back to Rhys’s house, Thomas kept one hand on Rhys’s thigh, teasing him with fleeting touches. Of course he was tormenting himself at the same time, and he was glad when they arrived at last.
“Finally. If it wouldn’t have scandalized the neighbors, I’d be stripping right now,” Thomas said playfully.
“Yeah, you need to wait on that until we get inside,” Rhys said. “Otherwise my neighbors really would get a show.”
