Page 104 of Love, Academically
Lila poked his hard thigh in reprimand and Rhys leaned forward to grip her chin, before planting a solid kiss on her lips.
Rhys
Kickboxing was hell. Not just because Dan wasn’t there, but because he wanted to be with Lila. He completely got what she was doing, he really did. But he didn’t like her feeling she had to protect herself from him. Because she didn’t. Not at all.
Things like this should be straightforward. He liked her, more than liked her.
Fuck, who was he kidding? Rhys was in lovewith her. Desperate, stomach-churning, sleep-depriving, all-encompassing, love. And he was more than fine with that. Lila didn’t want his money, didn’t want his name or his connections. She didn’t need anything from him at all. Except his patience, and perhaps his mouth, and he was more than happy to give her that any time she wanted.
He grinned and aimed another long reverse punch at the poor skinny guy he was partnered with today. If he wasn’t going to have her tonight, then he’d have to get rid of his energy somehow and if it meant taking it out on this guy, then so be it.
Lila’s eyes softened and warmed for him, and for him alone. Her blushes, her smiles, her orgasms – they were all for him. But her hangover from Dr Dishcloth Douche-Twat meant she was holding back from diving into anything super-serious. Because that’s what it would be, that’s what itwas– serious.
Him and her, together. A partnership. There were no other women, no post-Lila. Not for him. There was a black ball of anxiety sitting low in his stomach. What if he wasn’t good enough for her? He was highly strung, difficult, not in touch with his emotions. He was sharp and particular and obsessive. The last thing he wanted to do was tarnish her shine. Because he knows that’s what he’d do if he was too…him.
“Hey man, go easy,” his partner said, stumbling back after a particularly good front punch.
“Sorry.”
Head in the game, Rhys.
The Fellowship application was ready and waiting for a press of the send button. An email that should have dictated the rest of his life, but it no longer did. The Fellowship application should have been the absolute pinnacle of his academic achievement, should have been the only thing he could think of, where all his ambition, drive and thoughts were.
If he didn’t get the Fellowship, he’d have to return toDallimores, sell his soul for a corporate office and a suffocating tie and be back under his father’s thumb. But this time, with all the considerable weight of familial disappointment pressing down on his shoulders, pushing him underwater. At least, that had been the deal.
If Lila could rebuild her life, reassemble herself after her gas-lighting wanker of an ex-boyfriend, then he could, as a thirty-two-year-old man, choose what the hell he wanted to do with his life. Why did he need to go back to Dallimores if (when) he didn’t get the Fellowship?
Answer: he didn’t. He had a decent job that enabled him to do his research. He had a rented flat that was affordable on his salary, good friends (well, Dan), and best of all, Lila.
Eventually, his father would get over himself. Elin was much more suited to corporate life. Somewhere along the line he had just stopped caring what his father thought. A father should be supportive of his choices, even if he disagreed with them. It wasn’t like he was selling his soul to the devil to be able to play the blues. No, he was simply researching Henry II and his sons. Just because his father didn’tunderstandhis passion, did not mean it wasn’t valid.
Rhys did not need his father’s approval.
“Hey man, good class,” he said to his skinny partner after the class. “Sorry if I got a bit carried away.”
“No worries,” he said. “You here next week?”
“Yeah.” Rhys stuffed his towel back into his kit bag.
“See you then.” The guy clapped him on his shoulder and with a smile, off he went.
Rhys pulled out his phone as he headed to his car.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see Dan or his sister, but he was too selfish to share Lila. He would, because he knew she’d likeit. The rest of the world was out there, but he was here in his little bubble with Lila. His girlfriend. Who he wouldn’t call his girlfriend and who he would be gentle with, because she’d asked him to.
“Call Lila Cartwright,” he said to his car as he pulled out of the car park.
“Hey, you finished? Was it okay not going with Dan?” There was the tell-tale noise of her snuggling down into a blanket on the sofa.
“Yeah, it was fine. A new guy said he’d see me next week.” Rhys indicated left to his flat.
“What? Are you making… friends?” She would be sitting there, her hand on her chest and eyes teasingly wide. A rumble of a laugh came from his chest.
“People want to see us,” he said.
“That makes no sense to me.”
“My sister has asked us round for dinner. Well, she’s asking her PA to sort it out and Dan has asked for a double date. Have you told Jasmeet about,” he hesitated fractionally, “us?”
