Chapter 42
Rhys groaned as he stretched out. Nearly hit Alfie in the face. “What happened?”
“We took a nap,” Alfie said. “Or you did, at least. You’ve been out cold for two hours. When was the last time you slept?”
“Last night.” Rhys couldn’t bring himself to look Alfie fully in the eyes. It wasn’t a lie. He managed a few snatches of sleep, though they never lasted more than a couple minutes.
He felt refreshed, though. And hungry. His stomach let out a growl as if to provide evidence to that fact. “Want to get something to eat?”
“I want you to talk to me,” Alfie said, his voice a low rumble.
“I am talking to you. We can talk over dinner, too, can’t we?” He’d roll off the bed, except Alfie was there, blocking him. At least with food, he wouldn’t have to look Alfie in the eye.
“Yes, you talk all the time. You still do not tell me anything.”
“I tell everyone everything. Right now, I’m telling you I need to piss, so could you move?” He just needed to get up. Get away from those too-knowing eyes.
Alfie did move to the edge of the bed, and Rhys scooted around him, going into the bathroom. With the door closed between him and Alfie, he took a deep breath. It was fine. It was all going to be fine. Six days and then they’d be heading back home.
He could get through six days of anything. He’d dealt with worse for longer. Right here, in fact. He hadn’t had baseball to help him get through it.
He relieved himself, washed his hands, and headed into the bedroom. Alfie was pulling on his shoes. He glanced up at Rhys. “The restaurant next door? Think we should invite Brock and Caleb?”
Rhys let out a huff. “I’m not sure I want to know what the lovebirds are doing in their room right now.”
“That doesn’t usually stop you.”
That dug in under his ribs. It shouldn’t bother him.
He knew what Alfie thought about him. So what if Rhys wasn’t a prude, though?
He didn’t have a problem with sex. He didn’t think anyone else should, either.
It wasn’t something to be ashamed of. No matter what the Lowry family, and others, tried to convince him of.
“I just want to eat.” Rhys headed for the door. “Not a morality judgment.”
He was barely into the hallway when Alfie touched his elbow. “I was not judging you,” he said softly.
“Right.” Not that Rhys believed that. He did not want to get into it now. Not when it felt like his stomach was trying to consume itself. “Let’s get some food.”
Alfie didn’t say anything else as they headed down the corridor to the steps.
He didn’t see their teammates out and about, but some music played behind a few of the doors.
He could hear the murmur of voices as well.
No one else came out. That was fine. It was hard enough keeping his mood up around just Alfie, let alone everyone else.
They stepped outside and even though the sun was going down, it still felt like heat blasted them away. It was a few short steps to get into the restaurant. Then there was blessed coolness once more.
He wished it could blast away the memories which crept in. Of all the times he’d come here with Simon. How the first time he’d come here with the team, he’d looked for Simon then nearly had to throw up when he remembered.
“I always knew Ohio was fucking hell on earth,” Rhys muttered, then smiled at the hostess who came toward them. “Thank goodness for this lovely oasis from it.”
Alfie cast him a strange look, but the hostess grinned at him. “It is a hot one out there. Is it just you boys today?”
“Do you need more than us?”
“Not at all. I’ve got the perfect table for you.”
He nudged Alfie with his elbow. “It’s perfect, she says. I could get used to this.”
She let out a laugh, but Alfie shook his head. At least he was back to his usual judgment, instead of all that concern. Rhys could deal with that.
When they got to their table, Rhys tried to ignore the way Alfie watched him. The face he made as Rhys talked to the waitress. Okay, flirted with, but it was harmless. He wasn’t going to do anything about it.
Almost before he’d sat down, the waitress hadn’t even handed them their menus, Alfie was ordering. “I’ll have a water. Grilled chicken salad. No fries. Gracias.”
“I like a man who knows what he likes,” the server said.
“I wouldn’t know what that’s like.” Rhys started looking over the menu. “I’ll take a water as well. I need a little more time for the rest.”
“That’s fine. I’ll put the drink order in for you first.”
“Must you do that?” Alfie asked, when she’d left.
Rhys glanced up from his menu, but only for a moment before looking down again. There was something in Alfie’s eyes he couldn’t quite look at directly. “I wasn’t doing anything.”
“You are always coming on to somebody. Do you care if they even want to be talked to in that way?”
“It was only meant in fun. If she was uncomfortable, I would stop.”
“And if she doesn’t know it was safe to tell you?”
Rhys opened his mouth then paused before closing it. “I didn’t think of that.”
Alfie’s mouth remained tight. “You should. Jen says it’s a real problem for some women.”
“Yeah. Shit.” Rosie’s girlfriend. Of course. He’d heard some of her rants, and it wasn’t that he disagreed.
He just hadn’t thought they’d ever been aimed at him.
Alfie didn’t say anything else, but at least that meant he wasn’t trying to get Rhys to talk. What the hell was he supposed to tell Alfie? His former foster brother might have been emailing him? That probably wouldn’t bother a normal person. He needed to get over it.
When the server returned, Rhys gave her his order without even the slightest bit of flirting. She gave him a sideways glance but took their menus and gave them a strained smile before heading away from the table. Rhys glanced over at Alfie, but he still couldn’t meet his eyes. “Was that better?”
“I’m sorry.” Alfie reached toward Rhys’s hand.
Rhys shifted away from the touch. “Wouldn’t want someone to think something was going on between us.” He hated how much acid that had rising in his throat.
“I have never cared about that,” Alfie said, his voice low. “I do not worry about what other people think.”
“Right.” Rhys wasn’t sure that was even worth arguing with. Even now he didn’t want anyone to hear him.
Rhys took his phone out, and saw he had some new messages. At least that would be something to pass the time. Keep Alfie from getting him to talk.