Page 45 of Rhys: and the girl who was always his

Liar.

“I mean,” Yasmin says, eyes wide with excitement, “we allknewsomething was going on. But I think we need official confirmation now.”

“Exactly,” Ella agrees, nodding so hard her blonde ponytail bounces. “You two have been suspicious forweeks.”

Ashley, who has known this entire time, simply smiles. She’s thriving. Absolutely living for what’s about to go down.

“This is such a good night for me,” she says sweetly.

I groan, burying my face in my hands. “We arenotdoing this right now.”

“Oh,” Chase says with a grin, “but weare.”

Rhys leans in, voice low, challenging. “You know you could shut them up.”

I glance up at him, suspicious. “What do you mean,shut them up?”

His eyes gleam with amusement. “Unless you’re scared.”

Oh, you smug bastard.

Fine.

I grip the front of his shirt, pull him towards me, and kiss him.

Andeverythingstops.

There’s utter silence before chairs scrape the floor. Glasses clink. A fork clatters to the table. Somewhere in the distance, I think I hear someone whisper, “Holy shit.”

But all I feel is Rhys.

His lips crush against mine with the same barely controlled intensity that’s been simmering between us for weeks. His hand slides to my waist, fingers curling tightly as if he’s afraid I’ll vanish.

I kiss him like I have something to prove. Because I do.

I need him to stop smirking.

I need to shut him up.

And Ineedthis.

When I pull back, breathless and entirely too aware of the stunned silence around us, I meet his eyes.

He looks dazed. And also?—

Smug.

Dammit.

“FINALLY!” Ella shrieks, throwing her hands in the air like she just won a game show.

Yasmin groans, collapsing dramatically onto Chase’s shoulder. “I told you I wasn’t imagining it.”

Chase glares across the table. “Wait—Ashley knew?!” Obviously he saw her smile.

Ashley shrugs. “Obviously.”

Chase gapes at her, betrayed. “And you didn’ttellme?”

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