Page 83 of Flare

Hardly waterboarding, but I suspect the rendition programme missed an opportunity in Beckett Northcott. Weaponised French kissing. It had a certain ring to it. But the minute he knew about my appointment, Beck got his assistant to cover his class so he could drive me. I protested until I was hoarse, but then almost fucking cried. I was so incredibly relieved.

“Rhys?” The warm voice startled me from my imminent freak-out.

“Yes.” I shot to my feet, collecting the coffee table with my knee and toppling the stack of magazines. “Fuck, sorry.Shit. And sorry for swearing.”

Beck snorted softly and I realised I still had a tight grip of his hand. I didn’t let go.

“I might be a little nervous,” I hastily explained to the friendly middle-aged face topped by a mop of tight carroty brown curls that threatened to explode from the top of his head. “I think we need to talk about your clock.”

The man quirked an eyebrow and there was another snort from Beck. The therapist took in my outfit with a curious smile that said he understood exactly what I’d been going for. Then the smile broadened to a wide grin at our joined hands. “I’m Callum Greenwood. Nice to meet you, Rhys.”

I untangled my fingers from Beck’s and shook his hand. “And you, Callum, although I guess that’s yet to be seen.”

Callum laughed. “Very wise.”

I waved Beck’s way. “This is my boyfriend, Beck.”

They exchanged pleasantries, and it gave me a few seconds to study the therapist. I liked what I saw. Deep laughter lines shot from a pair of shrewd grey eyes, and at five foot four if he was lucky, the man’s slender body was clad in turquoise trousers, white vans, and a snug white merino jersey topped with a colourful chiffon scarf. And if I wasn’t mistaken, he was wearing just a touch of lip gloss. Unique. Quirky. Like the man wearing it, I guessed. But most of all, he felt... safe. It was the first word that came to mind, and with it, some of the tension slipped from my body.

“I’ll be here when you’re done.” Beck kissed me on the cheek.

“Actually, I have a separate exit direct from my office,” Callum explained. “That way clients can leave without running into anyone else.”

“Then I’ll wait in the carafterI set your magazines to right.” He winked at me and I fired him a look that promised retribution. “Nice to meet you, Callum.”

“Same.” Callum turned and waved me into his office. “Take a seat anywhere you like.”

I sighed. “You better have Kleenex in there.”

“I have shares in the bloody company.” He had a surprisingly booming laugh for such a slender man. “And not just for my clients.”

I studied his open face and warm, welcoming smile and gulped in a breath.Okay, I can do this.

Let the games begin.

* * *

Beck

There was a lightness to Rhys after his appointment, a softness that had been absent for a while, if it had ever been there at all. The thought struck me from nowhere. I thought I’d come to know him quite well, but Rhys had spent years stuffing his fears and desires behind a wall of pretence, and that did things to a person. But if this softness was a clue as to what was to come, I was all for it, and I hoped it boded well for the new therapist. Rhys at least seemed to like the guy, which was a start.

He’d returned to the car drained from the effort of whatever they’d talked about. I didn’t press him for details, and he didn’t offer. We held hands all the way back to my house, and I tucked him up on my couch with a beer until Kip dropped Jack home and we ordered takeout delivery, much to Jack’s delight. Then we blobbed in front of some B-grade heist movie I could barely follow, my focus entirely on the exhausted man in my arms.

Halfway through the movie, I caught Jack smiling at the two of us, Rhys sound asleep with his head on a cushion in my lap.

“What’s up?” I asked quietly, not wanting to wake Rhys.

“Can I stay at Monica’s tomorrow?”

I was suddenly wide awake. “The girl who asked you to the dance?”

He nodded, cheeks scarlet as he rattled off, “Her parents will be home, and we won’t be sharing a room or drinking or anything like that. But they have this really cool movie set-up, and a couple of the others are coming for aStar Warsnight...”

He rambled on about all the rules her parents had put in place until I held up my hand. “Get the parents on the phone tomorrow morning and we’ll talk, okay?”

“Cool.” He stretched his legs lazily in front and tried not to look as excited as he obviously was. Then his gaze flicked between Rhys and me.

“Was there something else?”

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