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“What happened to him?” I ask, turning back to my stepdad.
“I trusted him alone with Rhys.”
My eyes bulge. “Rhys hit him?”
Oz grimaces. “He claims Michael had a couple of accidents.”
I dart another glance at the blond, but my shock is short lived when I remember his fucked up comments the night before. It’s hard to feel bad for a guy who thinks manipulating you is the best way to get into your pants, especially when he thinks he could ever take Rhys’s place.
“He does seem very clumsy,” I decide. “He probably should have been more careful.”
Oz bursts out laughing. “Why am I not surprised?”
I give him my best feigned flutter of lashes. “I don’t know what you mean. If Rhys says he had an accident, he must have.”
Oz merely rocks his head slowly from side to side but doesn’t press. “Your mother wants to know when you will be moving back,” he says instead.
My gaze shifts to where Rhys stands alone. Our eyes meet, triggering a whole galaxy of butterflies in my belly.
“As soon as we pack up our apartments.” I decide. I face Oz once more. “I know Mom wants us back, but do you?”
“Addie, if it were up to me, you would already be here where you belong. You and Rhys, this is your home. You can live in the main house, the guesthouse or build your own place. I don’t care as long as you’re both here.”
I nibble my bottom lip as I chew over my next words. “Are you really okay with me and Rhys being together?”
He brushes a strand of hair off my cheek lightly. Eyes so much like Rhys’s search mine carefully.
“This isn’t what I expected from either of you. I also can’t see it any other way. The situation is a delicate one and it will take time to adjust to the change, but...” He stops moving to peer down at me with steady focus. “There is no man I trust more with the second most precious person in my life, Addie. I know my son is a good man. He’s kind and hard working. He’s loyal and compassionate. And he loves you with the same undying love I feel to my soul when I look at your mother. He will protect you and care for you the way you deserve and that is all I want.”
My attempts to keep the emotions bottled up, keep the tears from ruining my makeup fail. Warm tears trek down my cheeks.
Oz smiles a little sadly as he brushes the stray tear away lightly with the pad of his thumb.
“Don’t cry, my love. You’ll make him think our conversation is going badly.”
Willing back the rest of the flood, I glance back to where Rhys’s brows are furrowed, his stance rigid like he’s debating whether or not to march over. I give him a quick smile and a wave before returning to the other man who holds my heart.
“How did I get so lucky?”
Warm lips brush the skin between my eyebrows. “I’m the one who is lucky,mi amor.”
The song ends and Oz starts leading me to where Rhys stands watching us, watching me with eyes that beg me to go to him. I want to so desperately it physically hurts, but I resist.
“We’re trying not to get people talking,” I tell Oz when I stop him from taking me to Rhys. “Your anniversary should be about you guys.”
Oz scoffs. “Let them. Like I said, I’m not worried about it.” He kisses my cheek. “Go to him.”
I don’t need to be told twice. I practically sprint in my heels to the man I love with all my heart.
Rhys doesn’t hesitate. His arms are open even before I reach him. They slide around me with fluid ease and draw me the rest of the way into his chest.
I blow out a breath heavy with all the weight in my chest.
“Yeah, I fucking hated that, too,” he murmurs into my temple.
“It won’t be for much longer,” I remind us both.
Rhys grunts and I snuggle closer.
