Page 26 of Rhys: and the girl who was always his

“I’m grabbing more snacks,” I say, pushing up from the couch. “Ally, come help.”

She hesitates for a fraction of a second before nodding. “Sure.”

I lead the way into the kitchen, waiting until we’re out of earshot before turning to her. “This is killing me.”

She sighs, leaning against the counter. “Rhys?—”

“No, really,” I cut her off, stepping closer. “I can’t sit next to you and pretend like everything is the same.” I glance back at the living room, the nerves and frustration clashing in my head. “I hate this,” I add quietly.

She glances towards the doorway, voice low. “You think this is easy for me?”

I shake my head, exhaling sharply. “Then why are we doing this?”

“Because we have to.” She lifts her chin, but I see the conflict in her eyes. “For now.”

Frustration coils in my chest. I don’t want ‘for now.’ I want her. I want us. And I’m about to tell her that when she sways slightly, gripping the counter like the floor just shifted beneath her.

“Ally?”

She blinks a few times, pressing her lips together. “I’m fine.”

I frown, stepping closer. “You don’t look fine.”

She forces a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I just stood up too fast.”

Something about the way she says it feels wrong. But before I can press, she straightens, pushing past me towards the pantry. “What do you want? Popcorn? Chips?”

I hesitate, watching her carefully. She’s moving like nothing happened, like I imagined it. Maybe I did. Maybe I’m overanalysing because I’m already on edge. Still, something isn’t sitting right.

“Popcorn,” I say finally. “And something sweet.”

She pulls out a bag of popcorn and a pack of chocolate, shooting me a playful smirk. “Compensating for your bitter personality?”

I roll my eyes, but it’s good to see some of her usual attitude back. “Let’s go before they come looking for us.”

She nods, but as I turn to head back to the living room, I catch Ashley lingering near the doorway.

She’s watching Ally.

And she looks worried.

A fleeting look shared between us conveys something unsaid. She noticed too.

I don’t say anything as we return to the couch, but my mind is still running, still processing. Something is going on with Ally. And whether she admits it or not, I’m going to find out what.

We settle back on the couch, and I’m hyper-aware of the way everyone shifts to make room. The way Ally is careful not to end up too close. She’s still putting on her act, glancing from me to Ashley to make sure no one suspects anything.

“Finally!” Chase throws his hands up in mock celebration. “I was about to send a rescue party.”

“Like you’re any better,” I say, hoping I sound convincing. “You’d get lost on the way to the kitchen.”

He grins, unbothered. “Not true. I’d follow the smell of snacks.” His overly enthusiastic tone almost makes me laugh, but I’m too busy watching Ally for any signs I might have missed.

She hands the popcorn to Ashley, then curls into the farthest side of the couch, her focus immediately back on the TV, on anything but me. Like she’s trying to prove something to herself or to Ashley.

Maybe both.

I open the chocolate, but I’m not really paying attention to what I’m doing. I can’t stop thinking about what just happened, the way she seemed so off-balance, how she wouldn’t meet my eye. It could be nothing. She could be telling the truth. Or?—

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