I raise a shoulder in a lame attempt to try and hide the turmoil inside.
"I mean, I knew you were in a funk but I had no idea it was this bad." Bryson says.
"Seriously guys, I'm fine." I try to assure them.
"Dunc, even I knew the answer to that dad joke." Aiden says. "That was a call for help."
"Shut up." I grumble but a part of me is jumping for attention, arms flailing, yelling,yes, please, help me, I'm sad.
Suddenly the boys stand and huddle together without me. They're holding up their hands like we do on the ice so our opponents can't read our lips. The girls all pull up their phones and I can feel their texts flying to each other.
"What the heck guys?" I complain as I toss my cards down on the table.
"I don't think it can wait that long." Bryson says with a peek at me over Emmett's shoulder. His lips press together in a frown and he shakes his head.
"Well how quickly do you think..." Felix's question is cut off when Aiden shows him something on his phone. "Perfect."
They all stand and turn to face me.
"What?" I ask defensively.
"It is time."
"No, no it isn't." I say as I stand up and step over Jo towards the hallway to my bedroom. "I don't need to get Rafiki-ed, I already know I love him."
The words stop me short and I freeze. Holy crap. I already know I love him. I just haven't said it out loud to anyone or myself.
And voicing those words made it real.
Only after a beat do I realize they're not cheering like I expect them to.
When I turn around my boys are just standing casually around the island, barely registering what I just said. The girls are blinking at me.
Maybe they didn't hear me.
"I said I'm already in love with him, I don't need to watch the movies."
"We heard you," Emmett says, annoyed.
"Getting the guy isn't what your movies are about." Felix says as he crosses his arms and widens his stance.
"They're not?"
"No. But we have a game to get to tomorrow and then we fly home afterwards. Your movie night will begin on the plane and be continued at the hotel."
I watch as they all file out of my apartment and I realize all the empty places I've been carrying around for the last month since Rhys left D.C. have been filled suddenly with a sense of hope.
And like a two goal lead going into the third period, that can be a very dangerous thing.
Chapter forty-six
Rhys
Full Name Basis
Myphonefinallyringsat eight in the morning and I reach for it so quickly I knock my glass of water to the floor.
He never answered. Zara got me loaded into a car, I slumped against the door the entire drive home. Calling Duncan nearly constantly. My phone died around three. I stumbled up to my bedroom, set the phone on the charger, and passed out on top of the covers, boots still on.
