Tetris in Red

29: Tetris in His Dreams

29: Tetris in His Dreams

Rhys

I scramble to my feet, the warmth I felt dissolving into nothing but anger. And it's not because of Alec, or what happened. No, I can't be mad about that. The leftover tingles, the ghost of his touches lingering on my skin don't let me to just yet.

I'm angry because I allowed it to happen. Because I wanted it. Because it can't happen.

I waited for a breakthrough in my career all my life. It's why I left the convenience within my parents' home and lived in a beat-up trailer. It's the sole reason why I'm here despite the complications it brings to my otherwise private life. And now, now I kissed Alec MacSweeny and all my sacrifices, hard work and years of honing my artistry will be reduced into something dirty by the public eye.

"Rhys!"

I pull the door of the pool house open and snatch my clothes. There are voices inside the house as my feet gradually pull to a stop. My heart skyrockets, dread fills me as I watch Holland and Cyprus from behind a tree and tall plants.

They are going to see me. Cyprus is going to think that he's right, that I'm just here to fuck one of them, that I'm a gold-digging whore.

"Rhys..." I visibly wince and step back from Alec when he touches my arm. Hurt laces his expression when our eyes meet. "Look, I'm sorry. I thought we were on the same page—"

"Well, you thought wrong." My tone is sharp, the back of my eyes burning hot all of a sudden. I will them back. "I told you we can't."

He tentatively grabs my hand, and I take another step back. "I know Rhys," he begins, glancing at the people talking inside the house for a moment. Alec lowers his voice, "But god, god did we skirted around this long enough. I told myself the same thing and tried to push you away, to stay as friends." He gently caresses my cheek. Angry, frustrated tears fall. "We are more than that now."

"I know," I simply say and look away.

It's as simple as that. Alec likes me, I like him, but we can't be together because... life. I'm going to be the one who's going to end up with nothing once this blows over. And Alec? He'll stay in the spotlight, waving and pasting that signature smile on his face like nothing happened. It's the norm in this industry. And we are nothing special no matter how simple this seems. It's not going to be simple for me. For women, it never is.

A squeeze of my hand pulls me to the present and my eyes find Alec's again. His own searches for mine, his lips parting and closing as if he doesn't know what to say. "I understand. But Rhys, I'm here. I'm going to be by your side and we'll take this one step at a time. I promise you. If it didn't work out, you can forget anything ever happened and no one will know." As if just to appease me, he adds, "If that's what you want."

"What is this exactly?"

We are still talking in whispers because of this.

I'm not liking whatever this is so far.

"I don't know," he says slowly, I rear back. He leans to capture my eyes when they start straying away, looking for something else to focus on. Adoration pours in his as he drinks me in. "What I know now is, I like you. I like whatever we have right now and I want to explore it. I've got it bad for you, Red, you follow me even in my dreams."

A chuckle escapes me. I couldn't help it. A grin breaks out from him, his thumbs gently swiping dried tears under my eyes. "Your smile even blinds me. Jesus Christ. Come here Red, give me a hug." He takes my hands in his and pulls me close, wrapping me in a tight, tight hug I didn't know I needed.

I feel everything in that hug: his adoration, his need, his want to explore this with me and the sincerity he poured in his words. And it makes me want it too, so bad, it hurts. I hide my face in the crook of his neck and inhale him in. He smells of spice, sweat and sea and everything in between.

I hear him chuckle. "Are you smelling me?"

"No, I'm just breathing. You know, what people do to stay alive."

"Ah, missed that in my survival handbook."

I laugh out loud, smacking him in the chest as I pull away. "Oh, shut up."

I momentarily forgot that it's not just us. That there's a whole world watching. I sigh, a little defeated, a little more wanting to continue it anyway. "Are we really doing this?"

"No, I'm doing this." I frown, confused. He only smiles, his tone admonishing. "I'm wooing you, Red. I told you I got you. If we're going to do this, we might as well do it the right way, yeah?"

"Like the rockstar way?" I ask, only half-kidding.

"Damn right, it is."

He kisses my forehead, pulling away just as the automatic night lights turn on. "Let's go inside the house, before they see us here. Ladies first."

He motions to the tiled path around the pool. I take a deep breath and start to walk, the familiar grip of worry latching onto my throat. But I keep walking, one step at a time. It's not too long before Cyprus and Holland come into my view and Tripper runs toward me. I notice he's outside and the door is closed. I kind of have an idea why he's there, replacing the worry with annoyance.

My hesitant steps turn into an irate march. Holland sees me before Cyprus can, his disapproving stare reminding me that I'm still in my bralette, my clothes still in my hand. I falter a little before deciding that I don't care, because who the fuck is he to think that it's okay to leave my dog out in the cold?

"Holland!" I shout, knocking onto the glass door.

Cyprus' words freeze in his mouth, before he slowly, but surely gives me an evil smirk. His gaze glances up from my head down to my toes. I shiver. "Had a nice day at the beach, Rhys?"

I cross my arms, leveling him with a stern look. "Yes." I look at Holland, dismissing him. "Why is Tripper outside?"

Holland only gives me a brush off his shoulder and walks back to the house, sparing me no glance. I forgot how complicated he is. Cyprus slides the door open, bringing my attention back to his. He still has the smirk, the snide, watchful eyes. "Where is Alec?"

"I'm not sure..." He hasn't come out, and I'm hoping he'll go the other way or something. Anything to get Cyprus out of his head. "I've gone alone."

He nods, "I see."

The door to the front opening catches our attention. Alec walks inside, a swagger on his steps. He feigns shock as he looks at his bandmates and Holland in the living room. "Whatever is going on here?" he mutters in a posh British accent.

I snort. He slides a wink my way. Cyprus is looking down, shaking his head. "He's in trouble and he knows it. He doesn't use his British accent unless otherwise." Then he looks up, raising a brow at me. "You aren't fooling anyone. The two of you."

He walks away and I can't help but stare at his back, my jaw slacking.