"Rhys, do I need to know about a relationship?"
"No, I can’t be in one of those, remember?"
"You can, you always can, but I need to know about it so I can manage the narrative."
My teeth grind before I force my jaw to relax. "How could I forget?"
"Don’t be all grumpy with me. We’re getting to the point where you’re ready to record, it would be pretty seamless to hard launch a relationship and have him be supportive of the recording process."
I stop and turn to her. "You’d be okay announcing a relationship?"
"If you had a substantive one, of course."
Is that what I want? To officially be Duncan’s? To claim him as mine to the world?
I haven’t let myself even entertain the idea. But my desire for it rings true down to the marrow of my bones.
***
I haven’t spent a lot of time at Duncan’s place but he added me to the approved list so when I arrive in the lobby his doorman sends me right up to the penthouse.
Instead of coming straight to his place I went home and changed into sweats. I want to be as comfortable as possible after being on-stage tonight. Totally decompress.
And sure, if we happen to get handsy so be it.
I don’t know how I’m going to bring up the question of whether he wants to be my boyfriend or not. It feels silly to write a check-yes-or-no note but that’s how I’m feeling.
First crush vulnerability is somersaulting in my stomach as the elevator ascends but as I told myself over and over again during my drive tonight.
What do I have to lose?
He says no? Yeah, it’ll hurt but I’m leaving town and I never have to see him again.
He says yes? I get to keep him in my life.
The elevator dings and my body responds like the starting bell of a boxing match. Things are going one way or another tonight.
And I don’t know what to prepare for.
Chapter thirty-three
Duncan
How hard could it be?
"You’renotthrustingenough."I call out from the kitchen island. My phone is charging after it died from me filming, and re-watching, Rhys’s performance. There’s enough battery life now to confirm Remember You Started This hasn’t texted.
Where is he?
"I am too!" E.T. defends himself from where he’s standing with one foot on red and one on yellow on our TWISTA board. His action was to pantomime doin’ it until his next turn.
"Jo help me show E.T. a better move." Bryson says with a wiggle of his eyebrows as he jerks his hand back and forthvacuumingbut it could easily look like something else.
"How about I show E.T. what I’d do." Jo says as she stands and spins the Twister board for her assignment. "Butt wiping."
She steps over to the board and squats and reaches between her legs.
"Huh." Bryson says.
