Chapter 57
Chapter fifty-seven
Duncan
Never-ending Reflection
"How amazing is my boyfriend!" I yell to my group of girlfriends.
"He's the best." Harper swoons. Laila and Caroline giggle at her while Jo just rolls her eyes.
"It's tough to tell if you're more obsessed with Rhys Reid or your soon-to-be husband." Caroline teases.
"Oh Rhys is just a crush. Aiden will always be at the top of the list." Harper says as she glances over to where the guys are talking.
I head over to join my teammates. "Thanks for coming tonight guys."
"It's been so fun! We definitely need to do more concerts together." Bryson says.
"But it's a little weird being here on the ice but there's no ice." Emmett says as he toes the rubber flooring.
"Yeah I agree." I say as I glance around. "Where's Cap?"
"Bathroom." Aiden says with a thumb over his shoulder.
"I hope he's back in time for the encore." I say. "Rhys said he was changing."
"Like clothes?" Emmett asks.
I shrug.
"I can't believe Rhys agreed to play at the wedding." Aiden says. "Please thank him again for us, Harper is beside herself."
"I only ask that he gets some time off so I can dance with him." I say realizing that while I'm bringing a date, my boyfriend, to the wedding, he's going to be busy working at it.
"Of course. He's only performing during the cocktail hour and then the rest of the night he's yours."
"Good. Because, I can't get enough of him."
Bryson throws his arm around my shoulders. "So you now understand how I can be so obsessed with Jo."
He slaps a hand to my chest like I've already agreed with him. "Sorry Boba Tea, your obsession with Jo is on another level."
"You'll get there." He says as he looks down his imaginary glasses at me.
I use my middle finger to push mine up on my nose a little higher and he laughs.
"Have you started to come up with nickname options for Gabe?" Aiden asks.
It isn’t official yet but all signs are pointing to The Renegades drafting the hockey equivalent of Dr. Doogie Houser, Gabriel Houston.
"Not yet, I've got a few ideas but we might need him in the locker room for a few weeks before one really materializes."
"That's bull shit." Aiden grumbles and we all turn to him with more than a little shock at this outburst. He's normally so even and controlled. "What?"
"Sorry, just didn't know you had those emotional depths inside Young Gun." I say with a nervous laugh around the circle.
"Well, you had a whole nickname ceremony for me the second I walked into the locker room for the first time, how come the rookie gets to ease into it?"
"One, he's an infant so I'm afraid he'll go crying to mommy." I tick the reasons off on my fingers. "Two, you could have been traded again any minute so we didn't have time to waste. And three, Cap asked me to do it right away. And you and I both know you don't say no to that man."
"You're lucky I didn't go running for the hills." He grumbles.
"Nah, it endeared us to you right away, you were hooked."
He doesn't say anything to fight it so I know I'm right.
The lights dim again and we all turn to see Rhys walking back out. Some whoops and cheers of appreciation start from the sections above us so I pull out a wolf whistle of my own.
But I nearly choke on the air when he steps up on stage…in a kilt.
And my jersey.
Fuck. Me.
His strong, muscular, perfectly hairy legs are on almost full display under the tartan.
Two girls shove past me excitedly. "If we get close enough I wonder if we can see under it!" One of them squeals.
A growl rolls in my chest because what's under that kilt is mine and mine alone.
Rhys, the cocky bastard, makes eye contact with me, winks and then hikes his kilt up an inch on his hips, exposing even more of his body to the world.
Slut.
My handsome, thoughtful, emotional, wonderful, little slut.
"Thank you all for being here tonight. This tour means so much to me. I wrote these songs at a rather turbulent time in my life."
"We love you Rhys!" Someone calls out from the crowd and his husky laugh fills the air.
He chuckles into the microphone. "Love you too. But, this next song is for the man I love the most. And it's called 'Mirror, Mirror'."
Emmett and Aiden look at me and I shrug, Bryson claps me on the back, and Crosby grips the top of my shoulders.
"Is he about to serenade you?" He asks excitedly.
"Ohmygosh this is the best thing ever." Harper giggles as she wraps her arms around Aiden's waist.
"What'd I miss?" Felix asks as he rejoins our group.
"Rhys is wearing a kilt and this song is for the man he loves most." Emmett says flatly.
I tune out my teammates as I get lost in the melody and the poetry as Rhys closes his eyes and treats the microphone like he’s about to swallow it.
When I only see me reflected,
I am lost to the maze,
Searching, yearning, dreaming.
Finding you behind me.
You’re my mirror, mirror
I see myself in you.
I see you in me.
Together we strike a perfect harmony.
Closer than you appear,
The object of my desire.
Rearview checks, double vision.
Clear the steam, reverse stature.
You’re my mirror, mirror
I see myself in you.
I see you in me.
Together we strike a perfect harmony.
Woven together tighter than ancient plaid,
Connected through each curve in the road.
Mirrors everywhere have me searching for you.
Wanting us together obstructing the view.
You’re my mirror, mirror
I see myself in you.
I see you in me.
Together we strike a perfect harmony.
Charming, you dirty dirty boy.
My tongue is stationed firmly in my cheek as I shake my head back and forth.
Mirrors, kilts, weaving roads.
We have certainly had some sexy adventures in our almost year together.
"This song is so sweet." Harper croons as she hugs Aiden. "I’m going to ask him to play this at our wedding."
"Babe, he’s singing it about his boyfriend." Aiden gently corrects her.
"But, the idea is so sweet, being each other’s perfect match, being lost without the other."
I can feel Aiden's gaze on me and keep my lips pressed together, trying not to let the memory of our first time together facing the mirror spoil Harper’s interpretation of the song. But when Bryson elbows me during the “I see myself in you” line I know he’s picked up on the innuendo of the song.
A few final chords of music play and the quiet crowd roars to life.
"I'm so getting under that kilt tonight." I say as my friends cheer for me and my man.
I know he's performing, I know he's Rhys Reid the Artist right now, but all I can see is the man who likes to cook at home, prefers documentaries to dramatic shows, and won’t tell anyone how much he loves to Hulu and do you.
And that's the man I can't wait to go to bed with tonight.
And tomorrow night.
Forever and ever.
A never-ending reflection of the two of us getting handsy into infinity.
A year ago I had a feeling things were about to change.
But I never could have seen any of this coming.