Page 46 of Rhys: and the girl who was always his

“Correct,” Ashley says, taking a sip of her drink.

“You’re dead to me,” Chase jokes, which only causes her to chuckle.

“Sorry, I was sworn to secrecy.” She shrugs, brushing Chase off.

Yasmin is practically bouncing in her seat. “Okay, butreal question—how long has this been going on?”

I open my mouth. “Not that long?—”

Rhys grins, stretching like he’s about to start trouble. “What month is it again?”

I elbow him hard in the ribs. “Don’t youdare.”

Ashley looks positively delighted. “I can’t believe I don’t have to pretend anymore. Do you know how painful it was pretending not to see you two make heart eyes over cereal and coffee every morning?”

“Painful?” Chase repeats. “We were the ones suffering! Watching this excruciatingly slow build-up like it was a goddamn reality show with no finale! It’s been years in the making.”

Yasmin leans forward, chin in her hand, eyes locked on me like I’m some sort of rare wild animal. “So. Are you two, like… official now?”

Rhys looks at me, a question in his eyes.

My heart stutters.

Then he glances back at the table and says simply, “Do you approve?”

Ashley snorts. “No. We’re planning an intervention.”

Arden nods, deadpan. “I already have the pamphlets.”

Yasmin grins. “We just didn’t think it would takethislong for you both to get your shit together. Honestly, we expected it to happen the night Arden got questioned. Sorry, Ash.” She gives Ashley a sympathetic smile.

“No need to apologise. I’ve known for a long time that Ally was the girl for Rhys. We were just stuck in a shitty situation.”

I bury my face against Rhys’s shoulder with a groan. “We arenevergoing to live this down.”

“Nope,” Chase chirps, positively giddy. “Not a chance.”

Rhys just laughs and presses a kiss to the top of my head like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

And maybe it is.

Maybe, for all the noise and teasing and inevitable jokes coming our way—we’ll be okay.

Because in this moment, with his arm around me, surrounded by the people who’ve watched us fall in love in slow motion, I feel it.

This thing between us—it’s real.

And it’sours.

Finally.

CHAPTERNINETEEN

RHYS

Something is wrong.

I know it before my brain fully wakes up.

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