Page 39 of Wild Side
CHAPTER 15
TABITHA
Rhys:
Letting you know to expect company today. And a package.
Tabby:
Oh? Are you going to pop out of a bush again?
Rhys:
No. It’s not me.
Rhys:
And I didn’t pop out of a bush.
Tabby:
As long as it’s not you, I’m happy.
Life carrieson in a hazy blur. Most days blend together in a nonstop rush. And I appreciate that about my current situation. It means I have little time to dwell on Erika. While the lingering sadness is a constant companion, staying busy has kept me from sinking into my heartache. Opening up about her deathto Rosie and Skylar over drinks was a relief. It immediately made me feel less alone. Something that I hate to admit Rhys has also accomplished.
He’s come and gone a few times over now. Where and who to, I have no idea. Friends? Family? Beats the fuck out of me, and he definitely isn’t big on volunteering any information. All I know is his last departure was no less abrupt than the others. We didn’t address the elephant in the room. I’m too scared to ask about his plans, and I’m walking on eggshells around the subject. And he’s too locked up to share a single fucking thing.
Though that could have had something to do with him offering to fuck me in the bathroom and me squeezing the hell out of his dick.
His really,reallybig dick.
Rhys has always given off big dick energy. But I know now it’s not so much energy as big dick knowledge. Big dick surety? Big dickguarantee.
I mull over the witty ways to put it as I wait for him to arrive again. Usually, I’d make myself scarce, but all that big dick nerve of his means he took it upon himself to send a company to my house to set up a security system.
Turning them away had been my first instinct. In fact, I had been in the middle of telling them I needed to drop Milo off at my parents’ house so that I could go to work. I was even being polite about it. It wasn’t their fault that Rhys, Legal Guardian of the Year, is an overbearing asshole.
But then Bash showed up, arms crossed with a no-nonsense look on his face, telling me Rhys knew I was busy and had asked him to stay and supervise. Apparently they text now. I’m not sure about what. It seems like texting grunts and scowls back and forth would be rather anticlimactic.
Bash also told me it was okay to let people take care of me sometimes. And that one sentence struck a nerve I didn’t feellike standing around discussing. So I’d offered a watery smile, told him to mind his own damn business, and then taken off.
Turns out having anyone but Rhys show up at my house didn’t make me happy at all.
Even the outdoor heater he had delivered for the back deck didn’t help. All it did was keep me warm while I sat outside and plotted my revenge.
That was five days ago. Which was the perfect amount of time for me to stew and hatch a plan. Yes, today I’ll be presenting Rhys with a surprise of his own. He once told me he doesn’t like surprises, so this will be extra special.
The big surprise is why I’m sitting on the front steps waiting for him to arrive. I check my watch and glance at the monitor that’s linked to Milo’s room, realizing Rhys is later than I anticipated. I’m hoping Milo is still napping when he gets here, so I can enjoy his reaction to the fullest.
By the time he pulls up, I’m painting my toenails a fresh shade of purple out of boredom. The sound of his engine cutting by the curb draws my attention. I expect him to look all ominous and scowly like usual, but instead his mouth is pinched and his eyes drawn. It makes me realize that even though he usually glares at me, there’s an element of him that looks… I don’t know… relieved to see me.
This face, though? This face looks like dread.
He yanks his usual duffel bag from the back door and tosses it over his shoulder. I watch him. Wondering if he’s bruised anywhere. Secretly hoping he’s okay.
“Hi…” I venture carefully as he makes his way up the front walkway.
“Hey.” Even tentative as he is right now, he commands attention. It’s not anything specific he does. It’s just him.
