Page 96 of Love, Academically
“No, it’s okay,” she said. “You won’t like it.”
“Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.” Rhys raised an eyebrow at her. “But you will.”
Lila’s heart swelled as he kissed her cheek and scrambled out of bed.
“Do you mind if I have a shower?”
“Of course, help yourself,” she said. “Towels are in the cupboard.”
She watched the muscles of his bum move as he headed out of the door. He threw a wink over his shoulder at her. Rhys was so different from the first time he had accidentally on purpose slept over. He had been so bristly, so awkward, hiding his body. Now, it was as if a switch had been flipped in him. Once they’d done all the things that they were supposed to do – going on a date, holding hands, leaving her on the doorstep, having sex allnight – he was relaxed and calm and downright hot. She enjoyed Relaxed Rhys. Enjoyed him a lot.
As much as she told herself she didn’t want a relationship, she did want someone to wake up with, to go to French brunch places with her, to sit with through Susie Dent. She liked being excited when Rhys texted her. She liked telling him random things and him enjoying hearing her talk. She liked learning about Henry II and Welsh words.
Lila liked caring for people and prickly, soft-centred Rhys, needed caring for.
Would a relationship with Rhys be the worst thing in the world? Perhaps not. Perhaps it was exactly what she wanted, what sheneeded. But she wasn’t even sure if he wanted a relationship and that was certainly not a conversation she was going to broach, because how awkward would that be? Oh sorry, going for brunch was actually just a way of saying thanks for the great sex, see you at work. And then she would have to see himat work, knowing that he had rejected her after literally shagging all coherent thoughts out of her head.
So no, she would not be bringing up that conversation. If he did, she could be breezy and bright andoh yeah, sure, I’m happy with a one-night thing, that’s fine. See you at work, bestie!
Her face fell at the thought. Nope. She was one hundred percent not happy with a one-night thing. She didn’t want to go back to just being friends and seeing him at work. Yep, she wanted Rhys for more than one night and for more than his excellent tongue and dick.
She was in real trouble with this beautiful man who cared about what she thought and cared about what she wanted.
She wanted Rhys as a boyfriend.
Oh fuck.
Rhys
Well, the coffee wasn’t bad, and neither was the plain croissant he had, but the pastel-coloured chairs were uncomfortable and the little round table was too small for his coffee, two plates of pastries and Lila’s teacup and teapot (obviously). She was remarkably pretty in a clingy flamingo-print dress, and bee-stung pink lips. He was so lucky to be here with her.
Mostly, though, she looked thoroughly delighted that they were in this tiny cafe with overpriced bottled water.
“This is my most favourite place. This pain au chocolat is beautiful,” she said, a crumb dropping from her lips.
Rhys reached across the tiny table and linked his fingers with hers.
She glanced at their intertwined fingers and a frown flashed across her face. Was she embarrassed? Did she not want people to know they were together?Werethey together? Usually, that conversation would have to be after date five, but everything was so topsy-turvy with Lila that perhaps it was a conversation to be had now. When they first started their agreement, she mentioned that she had sworn off all men. Perhaps that was still true. But perhaps, justperhaps, he had done enough that she wanted him in her life. Proved that he cared.
Hopefully.
Besides, he wasn’t ready to go home.
“Lila,” he started, unlinking their hands and dabbing his mouth with a napkin. She sighed, her shoulders dropping, but plastered a kind smile on her face.
“Rhys.”
“Can I spend the day with you? Do you have other plans?”
Lila blinked in surprise.
“Because if you have other plans, then don’t worry.”
“No, I just thought,” she hesitated, some internal debate going on inside her. “I thought you’d want to go.”
Rhys watched Lila tear apart the remnants of her pain au chocolat.
“Want to go? No. Lila,” he said, reaching across and tipping her chin up so she was looking at him. His heart stuttered. She was vulnerable and worried, a small crease in between her eyebrows that he’d never seen before.
