Chapter 79
Rhys genuinely enjoyed spending time with Mel’s siblings. Denny was a hoot. Sonia was sweet and had an interesting perspective on things. Even if sharing dinner with two teenagers had not been what was on Rhys’s mind when he came over.
He wasn’t upset about it, though it did mean he wouldn’t get to enjoy naked time with Mel while they were here. He could practically see Mel roll their eyes if he voiced that. He just wasn’t comfortable with that, even if they had Mel’s door closed.
When they finished eating, Sonia took a book out of her bag and settled in the corner of the couch. Denny put in a pair of ear buds and settled next to their sister, staring at their phone. Mel started gathering dishes from the table, and Rhys grabbed the glasses, carrying them over to the sink.
“You don’t have to—”
He leaned in and kissed them, cutting off any more of their words. “I’m here,” he said. “I can help you. You don’t need to do everything yourself.”
Maybe it would take them a little longer to realize he wasn’t worth anything.
He tried to shut that thought out as he filled the sink with water.
He could feel them watching him for a long moment then they fell into an easy rhythm of Rhys washing and Mel rinsing and putting the dishes in the small rack on the counter.
It was strangely calming to do this with Mel.
A lot different than when he’d been forced to help with chores as a child.
This wasn’t the same. It seemed Mel was always helping other people. He could do this for them. It’s not like this was that much of a burden.
He pulled the plug out of the drain then dried his hands on the towel hanging from the lower cupboard. “You know,” Mel said, “I used to think women were exaggerating when they said having a man do the dishes was a turn-on. I can see what they mean now.”
He laughed but the look in Mel’s eyes took his breath away. They apparently were not joking. He looked past them, but the twins were no longer in the living room.
“They’re fine,” Mel said. “We won’t do anything you aren’t comfortable with, whether they’re here or not. I wouldn’t do that.”
“I know.” He put his arms around their waist. “I’m not even sure what my issue is.”
“We’re made to think kids should be protected from knowing sex exists, even though it’s the only reason the human race persists.”
Rhys snorted then pressed his mouth to the base of Mel’s throat. He did want to touch them. If they were okay with it… Maybe it would be okay.
“Can we at least go into your bedroom? And close the door?”
They kissed him hard. When they pulled away, they simply took his hand, leading him to their bedroom. Where he made sure the door was firmly shut.
“Now,” Mel said, as they started to lift his shirt, “how do you want me to touch you?”
Rhys nearly whimpered at the touch of their fingers low on his stomach. “However you’d like.”
“That isn’t what I asked you. What do you want, Rhys?”
He wanted not to be a disappointment. He wanted to make sure they were happy. That he didn’t completely screw that up. He couldn’t voice any of that. Mel would definitely ask him to leave if they realized how messed up he was.
They didn’t ask you to leave when they found out you’re scared of the dark.
If they realized how much more there was, that he really was not worth their time, that would be completely different. Alfie would realize it as well, and he wouldn’t have anyone.
“Rhys?” Mel reached up to cup his face. He realized he’d taken much too long to respond.
Still, he shot them a smile he hoped came off as charming. “I want you to touch me,” he said, “in whatever ways you want to.”
He hoped it would be enough to keep them right there with him.
Rhys woke early the next morning. It had to be early because Mel was still in bed with him. He nuzzled his nose along their throat, and their leg caressed the inside of his calf. The only thing that might make this better was if Alfie had joined them last night.
He’d claimed to need some time to himself. After the way the game had gone, Rhys didn’t really blame him. It wasn’t personal. He knew it wasn’t. And yet…
Mel pressed a kiss to the center of his chest, effectively stopping those thoughts right in their tracks. “Why are you awake?” they asked him.
“Why aren’t you?” he came back with. The sun was up, though probably not for long, just enough for the lamp to automatically turn off. He hadn’t asked them to change the schedule for that, but they’d done it anyway.
He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve that. Especially if he was the one keeping them here when they had other things to do. Like their job.
“Don’t work this morning,” they told him.
“I need to go into the center, but not until nine. That’s almost two hours away.
” They slid a hand down over his stomach and grazed his cock, causing it to harden even more at their touch.
He groaned, but his hands went around them and pulled them up against him.
A clatter came from out in the kitchen. “Shit,” he muttered.
Mel laughed softly but drew their hand away. “The twins must have decided to make their own breakfast.” They kissed his neck again but didn’t make any move to get out of bed.
“You don’t need to supervise that?”
“They’re sixteen. No matter what my mother thinks, they are capable of taking care of themselves without bringing my house down around us.”
He huffed out a laugh. “Well, just in case…” He rolled over and reached for his briefs and Mel sighed behind him. “Wouldn’t want rescuers to be digging through the rubble and blinded by my magnificence.”
The bed shook with their laughter, and he couldn’t help but smile as he pulled his clothes on and headed for the door.
He was pretty sure the smile stayed right where it was, as he ate breakfast with Mel and the twins—even as he tried to subtly remove the piece of eggshell from his tongue—as he said goodbye to Mel and drove to the clubhouse.
Even when he still wasn’t on the starting lineup for the game, it only dimmed slightly. It was fine. They were being cautious. He might be brought in later. It would be fine.
Mel didn’t answer his texts while he waited for the game to start, but he didn’t let the smile slip. They were just busy.
Alfie settled beside him on the couch in the lounge. “You had a good time last night?”
Rhys looked at him, searching his eyes for some judgment, but if it was there, Alfie kept it well-hidden. “I was at Mel’s,” he said.
Alfie brushed his fingers over the back of Rhys’s hand. “I know. I hope you had a good time.”
The smile came back. “Oh yeah,” he said. “”Maybe next time you can join us.”
“I just might,” Alfie said, his eyes full of heat.
Rhys just hoped he didn’t go and screw it all up in the meantime.
“You up for starting today, Molson?”
Rhys had played in two of their three games so far, once as a pinch hitter and he’d taken over catching for Oscar in the ninth inning the day before.
“Yes, Skip,” he said. “There’s nothing I’d like more.”
Turner let out a low laugh. “Don’t I know it. Is your shoulder up for it, though?”
“Maggie cleared me on Tuesday.”
“For reserve status. I want to know if you can handle a whole game without it setting you back.”
“I can handle whatever you throw at me, Skip.”
Turner rolled his eyes at the pun. “Then, get ready to play today.”
Rhys rubbed his hands together. Finally. He was getting back out there.
“Hey, Molson,” Jasper called from across the lounge. “Someone out there to see you.”
“Who?” Rhys didn’t have visitors to the clubhouse. and Mel had been busy with the center. They’d seemed stressed but hadn’t told him exactly what was going on. They’d been distracted the day before. And barely spent any time on the phone with him.
With an early game today and a late one tomorrow, maybe they could rectify that situation tonight.
“Didn’t give me a name,” Jasper said. “Just wanted to talk to you.”
Okay then. That didn’t help. Rhys shrugged then stepped out of the lounge and stopped.
This could not be happening. Not here. He’d been imagining things. No way Craig came all the way here. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Is there something wrong with coming to see my brother? To want to see the life he’s made for himself. What’s keeping him from helping our mother.”
“You are not my brother,” Rhys said, keeping his voice low. “She is certainly not my mother. She washed her hands of me well before I turned eighteen. I don’t have any duty to either of you. And you have no right to fucking stalk me.”
“God, you always were overdramatic, Rhys. I’m not stalking you.”
“Really? That wasn’t you standing across from my apartment the other morning?”
“I just wanted to talk to you. There is nothing wrong with that.”
“There is when I’ve already told you to leave me alone. I don’t have anything to say to you. I don’t have anything to give to her. She thought I deserved you beating on me for kissing a boy when I was fifteen. I don’t owe her or you anything. So, get out of here and leave me alone.”
Craig took another step toward him instead. Before he could do more than shove his finger into Rhys’s chest, the door behind Rhys opened again. “Is everything all right out here?”
Craig sneered at Alfie. “Mind your own business, Jose.”
Alfie slid a hand over the small of Rhys’s back and looked over at him. “Does he actually believe that is my name or is he just racist?” They didn’t even have a Jose on the team. The Steel Suns had Jose Melendez, so Craig could be thinking of him.
But, Rhys doubted that.
“Go back to Mexico,” Craig muttered.
“Just racist then,” Alfie said, and Rhys couldn’t help but smile a little. Even with his heart still hammering.
“I told you to leave, Craig. I have nothing for you.”
“You’re going to regret this.”
“No.” Rhys turned with Alfie’s hand still on his back, “I don’t think I will.”
When they were back in the lounge, Rhys had to suck in deep lungfuls of air. Alfie put his hands on his shoulders. “Are you all right?”