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As soon as I stepped onto the front porch, Rhys’s eyes met mine. Seconds later, we were face-to-face, standing on the walkway.
“Riley, I had to check on you because you’ve got me worried,” he said.
“I didn’t mean to do that.”
“Considering how upset you got at Cheers and Beers, I couldn’t help but worry. Before you left, I asked you why you were crying and you said I didn’t want to know. But I do. Will you tell me why now?”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “Memories of you and me came flooding back.”
“The same thing happened to me. As a matter of fact, it started happening when I saw you and the girls in front of the grocery store, and it hasn’t let up.”
“Rhys, it feels like I’ve stepped back in time with you.”
“It feels the same way to me about you.”
“I apologize for touching you so inappropriately while we danced. Between our song playing and my memories of us, I got caught up in the moment before I knew it.”
“Me, too, and I apologize for how I touched you. It won’t happen again.”
The words between us stopped, and we stared at each other. Rhys’s blue eyes were sparkling and pulling me in, so I looked away and cleared my throat. Then, I focused back on Rhys.
“I haven’t been coming home to see my family and Macie like they’ve wanted me to because I was avoiding running into you. Everything that happened between us today is exactly what I feared would happen,” I admitted.
“I don’t want to keep you from coming home, so I tell you what. If I see you again whenever you’re in town, I’ll turn around and walk in the other direction or leave if we show up at the same place. That way, neither of us has to go through this again.”
“So for the rest of our lives, we’re just going to act like we don’t know each other?”
Rhys shrugged. “I guess.”
“I don’t want that.”
“Then what do you want?”
“To be able to do what we’re doing now. Talking to each other as two civilized human beings. As friends.”
“I’ve always been your friend, Riley. You were my best friend and still know me better than anyone around here.”
“You were my best friend, too, and you still know me better than anyone around here. Including my sister and Macie.”
Rhys kept looking at me. I knew he wanted to say something but was holding back for some reason.
“What is it?” I asked.
“When you ended us, it felt like a death to me. I grieved and went into a dark place for a while. What I missed the most about having you in my life was being able to talk to you. You were my greatest confidante.”
“I’m so sorry for taking that away from you,” I choked out, feeling a tear roll down my cheek. Without hesitation, Rhys gently swiped it away with his thumb.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry, and I didn’t want an apology. I just wanted you to understand how much your friendship meant to me. It still does. You and I have known each other for too long not to be friends. At least I feel that way.”
“So do I.”
“Okay. Officially friends again?”
“Yes.”
Rhys shook his head. “On another note, congratulations on your engagement. The guy is lucky to have you as a friend and a future wife.”
“Thanks.”
