Page 75 of Rhys: and the girl who was always his

She lets me hold her.

And for now, that’s enough.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO

ALLY

I’m halfway through stealthily snagging a chip off Rhys’s plate when my phone erupts with a buzz.

First, one alert, then another, and another—soon, the screen bursts into a kaleidoscope of notifications, each one competing for my attention like twinkling lights on a Christmas tree.

My mind races, trying to catch up, when suddenly I spot it: a photo. Our photo. Posted by Rhys on social media.

It’s a simple yet intimate moment captured without preamble—a candid shot of me curled up beside him on the couch, wearing his hoodie with my legs casually draped over his. His hand rests gently on my knee, his fingers idly sketching patterns on my skin. The caption beneath reads: “No more hiding.” In that moment, my stomach twists with a mix of panic and thrill, sending a surge of adrenaline through my veins.

“OH MY GOD,” I say, barely audible as I clutch my phone, heart pounding like a drum.

Across the table, Chase bursts out, his voice intermingling astonishment and humour as he sputters, “Holy shit, it finally happened!” His eyes dance with mischief, and the room feels charged with this unexpected revelation.

Ella, equally surprised, leans forward and snatches the phone from my trembling grasp. “So—you let him make it official?” she asks, a mix of teasing and genuine curiosity colouring her tone. “I didn’t pick you as the type to make it internet official.”

Arden, scrolling through his own stream of notifications with a wry smirk, adds, “Looks like Rhys just claimed you in front of the entire internet. And based on your silence, I guess that counts as approval!”

Inside, I wrestle with a surge of conflicting thoughts. For years, I had hidden away parts of myself, afraid of being seen too clearly. Yet now, standing on the edge of exposure, I’m overwhelmed by a strange sense of liberation—a realisation that maybe, just maybe, hiding was never an option.

Turning slowly towards Rhys, I search his eyes for reassurance. “You really posted that?” I ask, my voice wavering between disbelief and excitement.

He simply raises a brow, as calm as ever. “Yeah,” he replies in a tone that’s both relaxed and unrepentant.

“Without even a word to me beforehand?” I press, my heart pounding with the rush of vulnerability and the thrill of being fully seen.

Rhys leans in with a playful smirk and, in a teasing gesture, steals one of my chicken tenders. “You didn’t exactly object,” he says softly, his words laced with an intimacy that makes me melt despite the shock.

As I process his nonchalant reveal, my phone continues its incessant buzzing. More messages flood in—from cousins, old friends, acquaintances from university, and even an unending stream of heart emojis from Momma Nat. The realisation that my private life is now an open book sends a jolt of electrifying anxiety through me, yet amidst everything, I find comfort in the vulnerability of it all.

Yasmin’s laughter cuts through my swirling thoughts. “You know, you’re really starting to love this—almost as much as you love Rhys,” she teases, her voice ringing clear and irreverent. The mix of playful banter and sincere admiration in the room makes it all feel more real.

For a moment, I bury my face in my hands, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions. Every beep of the phone, every comment, and heart, feels like both a revelation and a reckoning. Despite the onslaught, a small, defiant part of me rejoices: This is who I’ve been, finally unmasked.

Rhys leans over once more, his lips brushing against my ear as he murmurs, “You okay?” His warmth steadies me, drawing me back from the tumult of thoughts and doubts.

I exhale deeply, looking around at the cascade of messages—the teasing jabs mixed with genuine support—and then meeting Rhys’s calm, assuring eyes. “Yeah. I am,” I reply, my voice gaining strength as I accept this new and uncharted reality.

Hayden, who had remained unusually quiet until now, shakes his head at Rhys with a grin. “It’s about damn time you publicly claimed her, man,” he says, his tone a hushed mix of approval.

With Rhys holding my hand under the table, I feel an undeniable connection—a promise that no matter how exposed I may be now, I’m exactly where I belong. Surrounded by good friends, unexpected revelations, and the newfound freedom of no longer hiding, I smile, knowing that this is just the beginning of embracing my true self.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE

RHYS

The call comes when I’m halfway through an assignment, my phone vibrating against the desk. I glance at the screen, expecting it to be Ally, maybe texting about where she wants to go for dinner, but it’s Yasmin.

And Yasmin never calls during the day.

Something in my stomach twists as I answer. “Yeah?”

“Rhys, you need to get to campus. Now.”

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