Page 84 of Flare

He sighed. “You know, it’s okay with me if you want Rhys to stay the night sometimes.”

Nope, I hadn’t.I kept a straight face. “You wouldn’t mind?”

Jack rolled his eyes. “I’m not gonna freak out at you sharing a bed or whatever. I’m not a kid. Mum used to, sometimes...”

I’d known that and made no mention of what I thought about it. Serena had brought the occasional hook-up home ever since Jack had been a young kid—too young in my opinion—and a couple of boyfriends had even moved in and then out, the longest for six months. Serena’s taste in men remained legendarily abysmal. But now Jack wasn’t a child anymore, and although I’d never bring a casual date home with him in the house, I was hoping Rhys would become a more permanent fixture.

“Thank you. That’s very enlightened of you.”

“Shut up. I just mean you’re boyfriends, right? And I like him. So, it’s okay. Just dial down the volume on, you know—” He winced and waved a finger between me and Rhys. “—to save my innocent ears. There’s knowing, and then there’sknowing.”

I laughed. “Noted, and we’ll make sure to do that.”

“He should stay tonight.” Jack studied Rhys quietly sleeping. “He looks exhausted.”

I stroked Rhys’s hair and he stirred, then went back to sleep. “Well, if you turn back the guest bed and throw some towels on it, I’ll bring him up.”

Jack frowned. “Not your bed?”

I smiled down at Rhys and shook my head. “No, I think he needs his own space tonight.”

Jack took the stairs at a teenage lope and called when he was ready.

“Wake up, babe.”

Rhys’s eyelids fluttered open, and when he saw me, he smiled. “Hey there, beautiful.”

“Hey, yourself. You’re staying here tonight.”

He frowned. “I am? I don’t thi—”

“In the guest room.”

“Oh.” He flushed. “Thanks.”

“Do you need to set your alarm?”

“Nah. I’m designing tomorrow. Kip’s taking the store. I can be late.” He reached up a hand and cupped my cheek. “Thank you, for today. I’m sorry for falling asleep. I guess the talking took it out of me.”

“I’m not sorry.” I traced his lips with my finger. “You asleep in my arms? There’s a lot to love about that.”

He gave an almost shy smile.

“Oh, and newsflash. Jack has given his permission for you to sleep over anytime.”

Rhys frowned. “Oh, okay. I, ah, huh. Areyouokay with that? I can have a few... issues, at night, sometimes.” He looked away but I drew his face back to mine.

“Absolutely, I’m okay with that. But not tonight. Stand.”

He struggled to his feet, almost toppling sideways as his legs wobbled, and before he could say anything, I scooped him up in my arms.

He laughed and threw his arms around my neck. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” Then I froze. “Shit. Is this okay? I didn’t even think.”

“Surprisingly, it’s fine. I think my body has gone on lockdown after today. Plus, it’s definitely a first. Maybe we can put it on the free-pass list.”

“I like the sound of that although I might have to up my weight regime if we make this a regular thing.”

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