Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

103

     Rubbing Link's back in circular motions, he let him continuously weep into his chest. Link had every right to break down, and a huge chunk of that had been Rhett's fault. He sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and rested his chin on Link's head. All Link needed was his best friend to be there for him and he slipped right through the cracks, failing him once again.

     Rhett couldn't help the tears that threatened to breach the edge of his eyelids, and one sneaked out of his eye and trailed down his cheek. He soon found himself sobbing also, feeling his heart shredding to pieces once again. This was by far, the worst mythical morning they have ever encountered.

     Lizzie, Jen, and Stevie stepped into the bathroom and wrapped the guys up in their arms. Tears brimmed their own eyes as they shushed them consolingly, and soon enough Kevin, Chase, Mike, Alex, Drew, Morgan, and Eddie were in the bathroom. They were all fairly cramped, but they enveloped the boys in a kind of warmth that you couldn't find anywhere else but with your own family.

     They were a part of their family, and Rhett couldn't feel any more grateful to have them around. Mike had seated himself on the edge of the tub, and Alex moved to sit next to him, causing Mike to stumble and fall to the ground. He landed on Eddie's and Morgan's feet, whom both cried out in mock protest. They ripped Mike's beanie off of his head and waved it above their heads, both giggling like little girls. Mike flew up to his feet, his hair disheveled as he tried to fix it while reaching for his hat. "Gimme my hat, man!"

     "Gimme my hat, man," Eddie mimicked in a whiny voice, and Morgan snickered. Alex was doubled over laughing, the girls simply shaking their heads with a smile on their face. Rhett had found himself smiling also, wiping the tears away from his face with his free hand. Rhett's phone began ringing in his pocket and he reached for it, still holding Link's head to his chest.

     He'd stopped crying, but he wasn't responsive. He stared off in space.

     "Hey Jess."

     "Hey. I got it."

     "Got what?" Rhett said, sounding stuffy.

     "The bestiary. Or a bestiary rather. I've been thumbing through it while Christy has been sitting with the kids and there are some interesting things in here that you should look at. We were going to take the kids out for some lunch before bringing them home. How's work going over there?"

     Rhett swallowed, as his eyes scanned the faces of everyone in the room. "We had a bit of an interruption," he simply said.

     "Oh no. Is everything okay? You sound like you've been crying."

     "I have. I feel like a big jerk for what happened last night, not to mention I feel helpless. I feel like I'm not strong enough to do this."

     Everyone eyed Rhett with concern as they heard him talking, never hearing him talk like that before.

     "Babe, you're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. You're the most strong-willed, independent, and stubborn man I've ever come to know. Call me biased or whatever, but I think you're more than strong." Just hearing that come from Jessie's mouth was enough to make him smile.

     He felt a dash of hope in his heart. "Thanks honey," he said, and he could hear her smile in her voice when she responded.

     "No problem. You and Link are more than welcome to join us for lunch if you want."

     Rhett looked down at Link.

     "Do you want to go out for lunch with them?" He waited, but didn't receive a response. "Do you just want to go home and rest?" Link looked up at Rhett and the tears began pooling in his blue eyes again. Rhett realized what he had said and he face palmed. That's right, Link didn't have his home because it was demolished by werewolves. When was he going to stop spewing stupidity out of his mouth and upsetting his friend?