Page 14

Jade

T oday was one of those days that seemed to crumble around me. I tried to nap after the run this morning, but I just felt wired and overtired all at once. I was able to move my meeting, but then I bounced from one thing to another, and I don’t feel like I got anything done. I can barely hold a coherent thought. I hate the days I can’t get my fingers into clay…

The buzz of my phone interrupts my manic mind. I fish it out of my pocket and feel my eyes widen at the name on the screen. Shoot. I never got back to Rhys about this evening.

Rhys: I’m starving. Did you decide if you were up for dinner?

Rhys: I was thinking shrimp tacos. Shrimp Shack?

Seems like he’s not holding that against me. Thankfully. I need to be brave. I can do dinner. In fact, that sounds like exactly what I need.

Me: Thank you for checking in. That sounds perfect.

We set up the details, and I realize he’s been on my mind—off and on, like everything else—all day. I probably owe him an explanation about why I was upset this morning, but my family is the last thing I want to discuss. It’s too much, and it leaves me too vulnerable. Plus, if I tell him how fucked up my family is, he’ll likely run the other direction. I know I would.

After doing my best to pull myself together, I walk from my hotel room and reach the Shrimp Shack before he does. I slip into the booth that gives the best view of the door. When Rhys walks in, he nods at what I guess is his bodyguard, an unspoken conversation passing between them.

“Hey,” Rhys greets me, sliding into the seat across from mine.

“Hi.” I glance at the other man, now waiting across the room. “I see you brought company.”

“You don’t want to know,” Rhys says, rolling his eyes.

“Ah,” I say, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Maybe with some shrimp tacos you’ll bare your truths.”

Rhys considers this, stroking his chin exaggeratedly. “Hmm… And maybe you’ll tell me who was chasing you this morning?”

I grimace. Guess there’s going to be no dodging that one. But for now, I just smile.

The server swings by, and we both order shrimp tacos, extra-crispy fries, and fizzy water—comfort food for comfortless days. As our drinks arrive, Rhys leans forward.

“So, did the run this morning chase away all your demons?” he asks.

“I tried,” I admit with a sigh. “But you know, my family…” I take a deep breath and meet his eyes. “They’re difficult on a good day. My wedding day wasn’t the first time I’ve wanted to flee them.”

“Sounds rough,” he says, his voice softening.

“Last night was one of those occasions. My father holds court over Sunday dinner. I’ve been avoiding it since the wedding fiasco, but I finally went and…” I trail off. “Let’s just say, it was not fun.”

He reaches across the table, his hand near mine but not quite touching, a gesture of support that doesn’t overstep. I play nervously with the napkin at my place.

“So, they’re having a hard time with you calling off the wedding?” Rhys probes after a moment.

I nod. “To them, it’s less a broken engagement and more stalled contract negotiations.”

“Contract negotiations?” Rhys echoes, seeming perplexed.

There’s no turning back now. “Cooper’s family owns land outside of Sacramento. It’s prime real estate for some of our company business needs—logistics, shipping, you name it.” I force a shrug. “The marriage was designed to merge two families, and the land deal was all wrapped up in it. Me not marrying Cooper has put a wrench in the works. Meanwhile, my parents keep preaching ‘family first’, as if I’m just another asset in their portfolio.”

“They don’t care that he was cheating on you? They don’t care what you want?”

Rhys’s posture becomes rigid, almost as if he’s feeling protective of me. No one’s ever done that except Alexis.

I pause, feeling utterly exposed. “It’s not easy to explain…”

Rhys doesn’t push, just waits, his gaze steady and patient. The server brings our waters and retreats as I think about what I want to say.

“My family has a way of making everything transactional,” I continue after a moment. “Love, loyalty—it’s all tied to what you can bring to the table. So that’s what I’m used to, and then after Cooper…” I trail off, shaking my head. “Trusting people isn’t my strong suit.”

I wait for him to seem horrified, but Rhys just nods, his expression softening in a way that makes me think he understands more than he lets on.

After another minute, the server returns to place our meals in front of us.

“My family is a giant cluster,” I mutter, exhaling sharply as I push away the plate. Eating is now the last thing my stomach is up for. Instead, I tell Rhys a bit more about the miserable family politics of our Sunday night dinners. “It’s everyone for themselves and an exhausting game of Lord of the Flies.”

“Why do you play?”

I chuckle. “I don’t. I’ve hated this for as long as I can remember. That’s why I started my own business.”

“Then how did they talk you into marrying Cooper?”

I wave a hand in the air. “Our moms are friends. We grew up together, and they had talked about it for most of my life. Although he and I both dated other people throughout high school and college, I always thought we’d end up together, and he understood that too. Neither of us gave ourselves the space to question it…until the day of the wedding. Then a lot of things became abundantly clear.”

Rhys listens intently, nodding.

“I know this is a lot, so feel free to exit or request another topic whenever you need to,” I tell him.

But he just shakes his head. “You can’t pick your family, but if you ever need someone to attend these family events with you, I’d be happy to go.” He pauses, giving me a reassuring smile. “And I wouldn’t worry about offending anyone.”

His offer catches me off guard. If anyone else had volunteered to do that, I would think they were going to ask for money, but not Rhys. He doesn’t need it. No one has ever volunteered to step into the line of fire with my family. Though maybe I haven’t given them the chance. Warmth spreads through my chest, edging out the cold fear.

“Thank you,” I say softly. “No one’s ever offered to help me deal with them before.”

“Well, consider me your plus-one for any battle,” he replies with a wink.

“Why would you want to do that?”

He looks at me. “Because I don’t like what they’re doing. It’s not right to make someone miserable for your own amusement.”

For a moment, I allow myself to imagine Rhys by my side, a steadfast ally against the world I was born into, a world that demands everything but gives nothing in return.

“How was your meeting with the restaurant today?” he asks.

I’m stunned that he actually listens and seems interested in what I have to say. I told him that in passing during our run. “I was so exhausted I moved it to tomorrow. They had a fish emergency anyway, so it worked to push it back.”

“What’s a fish emergency?” Rhys picks up his water and takes a deep pull.

“I think they either didn’t get what they ordered or it wasn’t as much as they wanted.”

“That would be an emergency.” Rhys grins.

I nod. “It’s the restaurant business where profit margins are extremely low.”

“I wasn’t criticizing.” Rhys holds his hands up. “A fish emergency in my business would shut us down for months.”

I laugh. “You’re funny.” I pull my plate closer and pick up a few of the crispy fries. When that goes well, I move on to a taco. Rhys digs into his plate too. I notice now that he waited for me to start eating. “We’ve been talking about me all night,” I say between bites. “How was your day?”

Rhys’s gaze drops to his plate, where he pushes around the fries with his fork. He’s clearly reluctant to answer. “Let’s finish up here and then walk and talk?” he suggests after a moment.

I nod, and perhaps we could use a respite, but it feels like he’s dodging the question. We eat our meals in relative silence, but not an uncomfortable one. And when we’ve both finished, he stands and pulls out his wallet, settling the bill with swift efficiency. Then, unexpectedly, Rhys reaches for my hand. His warm grip is firm, comforting, and I’m momentarily distracted by the sensation, my earlier questions slipping away.

He leads me back toward the front of the restaurant, toward where his companion is still waiting. “Jade, this is Scott,” he says. “Scott keeps an eye on things for me.”

“Things?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

He offers a small, wry smile. “My life also gets complicated sometimes. Having someone like Scott around makes it easier to focus on what matters.”

The explanation leaves more questions than answers, but I don’t press, just greet the man with a warm hello. But what kind of complications is Rhys dealing with? Could they spill over into my life if this connection continues?

They share a look before Rhys continues. “We’re going to take a walk through the Marina. Keep an eye out, will you?”

Scott nods. “Sure thing, Rhys.”

We exit the Shrimp Shack and step into the quiet of the Marina. The sound of water lapping against the docks and the distant hum of the City fills the air. I realize that while I don’t entirely understand what’s happening between us, I do like that Rhys is holding my hand, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Okay,” I start, finding my voice again. “What are we walking away from?”

Rhys chuckles, likely recognizing my use of his own tactics. “Well, one of my business partners and a good friend, Justin, just…took off over a year ago. We haven’t had any real contact with him since, haven’t even been sure if he’s alive, and then this morning when I got in, he’d left me a voicemail. It was the first time I’ve heard his voice since he left.”

“That must be so difficult,” I say, my heart hurting for him. “Do you have a way to call him back?”

“No. He’s calling from burner phones. I don’t think he really wants us to reach him.” Rhys huffs. “He just leaves messages. I really feel bad for his wife, Crystal.”

I nod, and we continue in silence, comfortable in each other’s company, until Baker Beach comes into view, the sand a soft glow under the moonlight.

“Justin wasn’t just a partner,” Rhys says, his voice low, almost lost in the sound of the waves against the docks. “He was my best friend. We built everything together—this company, this vision, and then he was just…gone.”

He pauses, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve spent the past year trying to piece together what went wrong, but hearing his voice this morning… It brought everything back—the frustration, the guilt, the anger.”

I glance at him, his profile sharp. There’s a vulnerability in his expression I haven’t seen before, and it makes my heart ache all over again.

“But it’s hard to talk about,” he adds. “It’s all mixed up in the company, so we haven’t wanted to say too much.”

“Still, you don’t have to carry it all alone, you know,” I say softly.

He nods and gives my hand a squeeze. The return walk takes us back to the Inn Above Tide, and Rhys turns to face me.

“How long do you plan on staying at the hotel?” he asks.

“I’ve been thinking it might be time to move back into my loft,” I admit, looking up at the front of the building.

“Is it memories of Cooper keeping you away?” Rhys ventures.

I shake my head. “No, it’s not about him. I think it’s my family knowing where I am every day all day, since I already work from there.”

Rhys nods and follows me inside.

The lobby’s lights cast a golden glow over the marble floor as we approach the elevator bank. “Would you like to come up?” I ask. “I can order chocolate cake from room service. It’s one of my favorites.”

Rhys moves closer, his eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that sends a shiver down my spine. “Jade,” he says, “I want more than chocolate cake from you.” And before I can process his words, he leans down and kisses me.

His lips are warm, and the world around us fades into oblivion, leaving only the sensation of his fingers tangling in my hair and the flutter of my heart in my chest.

When he pulls back, Rhys searches my eyes, but he finds no regret or resistance. That surprises even me. Without breaking eye contact, he takes my hand and presses a soft kiss to the back of it, a gesture both reverent and filled with promise. “Listen,” he breathes, his thumb brushing my wrist. “When you’re ready to commit to something more than just one night, that’s when I’ll come up.”

I’m taken aback, my pulse racing at his audacity and the earnestness in his gaze. My brow furrows as I grapple with the implications of his words. “I’ve heard about you, Rhys,” I say. “You’re not exactly known for being…committed.”

His lips quirk up in a half-smile. “Maybe you have me rethinking that.”

It feels like a confession, one that adds weight to the moment. Then he kisses me again, softer this time, a promise rather than a plea. As he pulls away, Rhys calls the elevator for me, his fingers lingering on mine until the doors slide open. With one last look that seems to hold a world of possibilities, he lets go, and I step inside.

The elevator doors close, and my mind, once a whirlwind of thoughts and doubts, is eerily still, wiped clean by Rhys’s kiss. The remnants of his warmth on my lips spark a giddy swirl in my chest, like champagne bubbles rushing to escape.

I press a hand against my heart, trying to steady it. Am I ready for what he’s asking? Could I become ready? That sort of trust feels like a foreign concept, yet here I am, craving it from a man who seems notorious for avoiding commitment.

The numbers on the panel climb higher, and with each passing floor, my mind sharpens into focus. This wouldn’t be moving back into old territory. This would be something entirely new. Cooper and I… We were nothing more than pawns in a game dictated by our parents. Did we ever love each other? Or was it just convenient to believe we did?

My time with Cooper feels distant now, overshadowed by the intensity of the present moment. Rhys has stirred something within me, an awareness that life could be more than contracts and negotiations, more than pleasing those who can’t see past their own ambitions.

But with that hope comes doubt. What does he really want from me? And what happens if I can’t give it to him?

As the elevator doors slide open on my floor, I step out, still unsure whether I can let someone like Rhys into my life.

At my door, I pause, my hand hovering with the keycard. Rhys has challenged me to want more, to be brave enough to seek it. And as I let myself inside, I realize that whatever happens next, I’ve already stepped off the well-worn path of compliance. There’s no turning back.