He flopped onto his couch. Sir Stumps-a-Lot gave a soft grunt from the cushion next to him and didn’t even look up from his half-destroyed pinecone.
Rhys stared at the dog.
Sir Stumps-a-Lot stared back.
They were surrounded by emotional debris: a half-eaten bag of popcorn, one sock (his, hopefully), and the crushing weight of looming emotional consequences.
Rhys took a deep breath, then did what any man in distress would do.
He opened the Room of Requirement group chat.
?? Room of Requirement
Rhys:
Emergency.
Need sister therapy.
And maybe pie.
And maybe a script.
Liv:
Oh no.
Did you accidentally propose?
Darcy:
You’re not allowed to text “emergency” unless the corgi is missing or you finally admitted your feelings to Linda.
Rhys:
Okay but like
What if it’s worse
What if I’m meeting her parents this weekend and she still thinks she’s my brunch decoy and not her emotionally inept fake boyfriend who’s in love with her
Liv:
...
Darcy:
You haven't told her yet?
Rhys:
I KNOW
And now I’m meeting her dad. HER DAD, Liv. HER. DAD.
Darcy:
You’re going to die of cowardness.