Page 56 of Bliss: Part 1
Rhys shrugged. “We haven’t decided yet. We just figured we still need to do something as a family every now and then, even if we’re on vacation.”
“That’s a fun idea,” I said, smiling.
“Yeah, thought you’d love it.”
For the rest of dinner, all I could focus on was Rhys’s leg pressed up against mine on the swing. He didn’t pull away. He just stayed there beside me, eating like it was no big deal.
But to me it was, and knowing him, he was enjoying this while Odin was right there.
It was risky, yet innocent.
Seventeen
Bliss
Dad didn’t let any of us touch a single dish once dinner was over. He waved us all off, telling us to go get comfy while he handled the cleanup himself. No one argued because we knew better. So, we scattered upstairs to change into sweatpants or whatever was cozy enough for movie night.
When I came back down, the living room was still empty, so I figured I’d use the time to set things up. I went straight into full snack mode, checking every cabinet. I pulled out every kind of chip I could find and dumped them into three different bowls. Then I grabbed a few chocolate snacks. Some bars, some random half-open bags, and whatever still looked good. I put a mix of sodas and a couple of beers on the coffee table, thinking some of the guys might want something stronger than Pepsi.
I wasn’t trying to be fancy or anything. I just wanted everyone to have something they liked. That was the whole point of movie night. To relax and be together. Snacks were a part of that.
Odin walked in just as I was adjusting the layout of the bowls like I was setting up for a party.
“Look at you,” he said, eyebrow raised, grinning. “Ever considered a career in catering?”
I laughed and looked up at him. “I just want everyone to have a nice night.”
He gave me a soft smile, came over, and cupped my cheek. “That’s sweet of you, kid,” he said before pressing a quick kiss to my forehead. Then he went to his usual spot, which is the recliner just left of the TV.
I did one last check around the table to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything, and once I was sure I’d done my part, I grabbed a blanket, tossed it onto the couch, and sat right in the middle. Dead center, best view. I’d earned it.
Everyone else trickled in, flopping down without much thought. Ashby grabbed the remote and started flipping through all the streaming services we were subscribed to, half of which none of us ever used.
Predictably, it didn’t take long for the movie debate to start. Everyone had an opinion, no one could agree, and we ended up yelling over each other about whether we were in the mood for something funny, scary, or action-packed. Eventually, we gave up and agreed to leave it up to chance. Ashby scrolled randomly and hit play on whatever came up.
It wasCatch Me If You Can.
Not a movie I would’ve picked personally. Not because I predicted the movie to be bad, but because of the actor.
“I hate Leonardo DiCaprio,” I muttered as I adjusted the blanket over my legs and sank deeper into the couch.
Dash, who was sitting right next to me, turned and laughed. “Why?”
I shrugged. “He always looks constipated.”
That got a bigger laugh than I expected from pretty much everyone. I wrinkled my nose and grinned, proud of my stupid little insult at an actor who would never ever know of me.
“He’s a good actor, though,” Dad said from the other couch, where he was sitting next to Tripp. Ashby was on Tripp’s other side, already half-zoned into the opening credits.
Rhys had taken the seat on my other side, but I was leaning into Dash more since he’d casually draped his arm around me when he sat down.
The movie had been playing for maybe twenty minutes when Rhys slid his hand under the blanket and rested it on my thigh. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t even look at him. I just let it happen. It felt normal now. Being sneaky while also in a risky place because Dad and Odin could catch us was somehow becoming routine. A game. A quiet, thrilling challenge to see what we could get away with right under their noses.
I kept my eyes on the screen, letting the movie keep my attention, but when Rhys’s hand started to move, I turned my head slightly to glance at him. He wasn’t even watching the movie. His face was turned toward the TV, sure, but he wasn’t really there. His hand tightened slightly when he noticed me looking, his grip on my thigh firm.
I pressed my lips together and slid my hand over his, holding it there for a second. We’d held hands before, plenty of times, but this felt different. It wasn’t just sweet but sexually charged.
But Rhys didn’t seem content with just holding hands.
