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“What do you mean?”
“Rhys has always been chivalrous toward you, and you’ve always been his pretty princess. So I’m curious if you two are going to conduct yourselves in that way around your friends tonight.”
“There won’t be any need for Rhys to be protective of me while we’re at Jackson and Rachel’s.”
“I wasn’t talking about that natural inclination of his. Riley, are you going to let Rhys show you any affection?”
“Oh! I understand what you were saying now. And to answer your question—no, I’m not. I mean, I want to, but Rhys and I talked about all of this, and we’re going to act like we’re only friends.”
“Is that what he wants to do? Or just you?”
“Just me. If Rhys had it his way, he’d be all over me, holding my hand, kissing me, and everything.”
My momma chuckled. “Like he used to do.”
“Like I miss him doing. Thankfully, he understands why I’m not ready to go public about us seeing each other again.”
“Would your lack of readiness have anything to do with you worrying about what others might think or say, considering how recently you and Chad broke up, as well as Rhys and Trisha?”
“That’s exactly it.”
“Sweetheart, you have one life to live, and if I were you, I wouldn’t waste another second worrying about anybody’s thoughts or opinions on this matter. You and Rhys lost a year of being together and being fully open about your feelings toward each other. Don’t you think that’s long enough?”
I stared at my momma, understanding her loving and guiding words to my core and appreciating them so much. I needed to hear them and knew what I would soon be doing with Rhys tonight.
CH 20 - #hereandnow
Riley
Songs: “So High School” by Taylor Swift and
“Small Town Boy” by Dustin Lynch
I HAD JUST spritzed on some perfume when I heard the doorbell ring. The butterflies in my stomach started fluttering like crazy because Rhys had arrived to pick me up and take me to the pasture party.
While hurrying downstairs to greet him, I told my parents I’d get the door. When I opened it, Rhys dazzled me with his smile and canvassed my body with his eyes.
“My God, you look like…” he said, cutting his sentence short.
“Like what?”
“My girl. You’re breathtaking, Riley.”
“Thank you.”
“I love how you did your makeup and curled your hair. I love your tied-up T-shirt and seeing your pierced belly button. I also love those cut-off blue jean shorts you’re wearing and your cowgirl boots.”
“As the saying goes: ‘You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl.’”
“Nope, you can’t.”
Rhys looked me over again, and then I had my turn to check him out.
“Do you know what you look like to me?” I asked.
He glanced down at his navy blue Henley, tan cargo shorts, and Nike sneakers. “Um, myself?”
“You look like my boy. My handsome high school sweetheart. My sexy-as-fuck quarterback.”
