Hostile(42)

“Maybe we can come back here this summer?”

I look over my shoulder at Rhett as he ties a towel around his lean waist. “You’d want that?”

His smile is shy, like maybe he said something he shouldn’t have as I turn to face him, wrapping my towel around my waist. “Yeah. Maybe.”

I walk closer to him, letting my hand fall to his hip and pulling him into me. “I’d like that.”

His mouth quirks up on the right side. “Okay. Maybe we can go for an actual swim.”

“Only if you don’t wuss out on me again.”

He shoves my shoulder, and we laugh, heading up to the loft—where we’ve both been staying this trip—and get dressed. When he pulls on his jeans and tee, he sits on the edge, running his fingers through his damp hair. “You’re okay with everything that happened?”

I fight a smile because I know he’s deadly serious, and I don’t want him to retreat back into that head of his. “Yes. And I want to continue it.”

He frowns. “But only in secret. Right?”

I pull my t-shirt over my head and button my jeans before sitting down next to him. “Is that a problem?”

I feel sick asking the question. I know he seemed on-board with not telling anyone about us at first, but maybe now that we’ve had sex, he’s having second thoughts. And why not? His family wouldn’t care that he’s involved with a guy.

We both know the problem here is with me. And my fucked-up family.

His hand moves to the back of his neck, and I watch his fingers grip it tightly. “No. It’s okay.”

“Are you sure?” I search his eyes, hoping he’s really okay with it. I don’t want to hurt him, but I can’t let my dad find out. I have no idea what he’d do, but I know it wouldn’t be good.

“I’m sure.” He drops his hand and turns to face me with a look of determination. “It’s okay. I just hate lying to my friends.”

I know he’s talking about Bree and Fletcher. I also know how close he is to them. “You don’t have to.”

He cocks his head to the side with a raised brow. “I just told you it’s okay. That I’ll do it.”

“I know . . . but . . .” I sigh, my heart racing at the thought of my dad finding out. Still, I trust Rhett. “I know it can’t be easy to hide things from Bree and Fletcher. You can tell them. If you trust them not to tell anyone, I trust you.”

The relief in his eyes tells me that’s what was holding him back. “Thank you.” He swallows, his throat bobbing, and I see the sincerity in his gaze. “They would never out you. I promise.”

I smile and press a kiss to his lips. “You’re not my secret, Rhett. If I could, I’d scream it from the rooftops that you fucked the shit out of me this weekend.”

He laughs against my mouth and kisses me again. His fingers grip the back of my hair in a commanding way that sets me on fire.

Because when he does that and kisses me like this, I can trick myself into believing I belong to him.





TWENTY-NINE





“You did good today, kid.” Kole pats my shoulder and smiles at me as I busy myself with cleaning his station after his last tattoo. It was a big one. An entire backpiece with intricate art, and even though Hostile Ink doesn’t have the insane reputation Rhys’s shop has, they’re damn good and well on their way to it.

There are only two other employees here. Camden, who mostly does piercings, and Maverick, who’s mainly tattoos. It’s a small shop, but they were busy all day with appointments and walkins. “Thanks, Kole.”

“You think you’re going to like it here?” He smiles, leaning against his chair.

“Yeah.” He only grins at the simple answer, but what else am I supposed to say? I do like it here, but it’s gutting me, knowing I haven’t said anything to Rhys and knowing how badly I’m going to disappoint him when I graduate and don’t start working at his shop.

“Thinking about Rhys?” Kole breaks into my thoughts, reading my mind. He knows Rhys. He knows Rhys entirely too well because—you see, the betrayal goes even deeper—Rhys trained him. That’s how I met Kole and knew about this place. He only worked with Rhys for a year before he started his own shop. And don’t get me wrong, he had Rhys’s blessing.

Rhys isn’t really a competitive person and wants Kole to do well. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be hurt by me working here instead of at his shop. When Kole offered me the job, I almost turned him down, but I wanted it. I wanted it so damn bad, I could taste it, and I think Kole knew it. He agreed not to tell Rhys until I was ready, even though they still hang out occasionally.

The only reason Kole offered me the job was because, when I stopped by to check out his new shop, I let it slip that I didn’t want to work for Rhys. That I couldn’t just have it handed to me. He understood this but told me with him, I’d have to earn it.

It may seem hypocritical, considering my connection to Rhys is the reason I have this job, but it made sense in my head. And Kole isn’t just handing it to me. He’s teaching me, training me to be the best, and treating me like his regular bitch boy while he’s at it, having me go on coffee runs and clean up the shop.

Like every other apprentice on the planet. It feels like work. Not privilege.