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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ALLY

It’s Sunday, and the sun is unreasonably aggressive for nine in the morning. I’m sitting on a grey lounge chair with my legs stretched out in front of me, sunglasses perched on my face, and an iced coffee in hand.

Chase and Arden are already in the pool, loudly arguing about whether floaties count as cheating during chicken fights.

Yasmin and Ella are curled up on the outdoor beanbags with books they’re pretending to read but are really just using as shields from the sun.

It’s warm, the kind of Australian spring day that makes everything feel a little more alive. Even the breeze feels flirtatious.

Rhys steps outside carrying a tray with snacks and drinks, shirtless and damp from his own earlier swim. He sets it down on the patio table like it doesn’t mean anything. Like he doesn’t know what he’s doing to my nervous system. He catches me staring and smirks—not arrogantly, but like he’s in on a secret we’re both still too afraid to say out loud.

Ashley follows behind him, sunglasses on, carrying a speaker that she connects to her phone. Music kicks on—a summery mix of throwbacks and chill hits.

“Pool day was a good call,” Yasmin says, tipping her face towards the sun.

“Agreed,” I say, stretching with a groan. “Though I’m starting to think Chase is more of a menace in water than on dry land.”

Chase, floating by on a pink flamingo ring, shouts, “That’s a compliment!”

“It wasn’t,” Rhys calls back.

I laugh, sipping my drink. The vibe is light and easy. For once, I’m not thinking about health or symptoms or what comes next. I’m just here .

Rhys flops onto the lounge next to mine, far too close for comfort. Our legs brush. Neither of us moves.

“You look better today,” he murmurs.

I glance at him. “Better than what?”

“Better than you did yesterday when you looked like you might pass out if you blinked too hard.”

I roll my eyes. “Thanks, that’s very romantic.”

He shrugs, smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Just calling it like I see it.”

I open my mouth to reply, but a shout cuts me off.

“Cannonball!” Arden launches himself off the side of the pool, soaking the entire patio.

Everyone screams, laughing. I squeal as cold water splashes up my legs.

“Arden, you asshole!” Ella yells, tossing her flip-flop at him.

“Worth it!”

I glance over at Rhys, who’s dripping wet now, dark hair plastered to his forehead. He doesn’t even flinch. He looks at me like this is exactly where he wants to be.

And that stupid flutter starts in my chest again.

Our group grows as Isabelle comes over with her younger sisters, Megan and Taylah. The girls jump straight into the pool and start playing with Arden and Chase.

Vada and Dylan, our other neighbours, join us, and Dylan makes it her mission to piss off Arden.

“Where are the boys?” I ask Isabelle once she settles into the chair across from me.

“Dom’s at work, and Roman, Grayson, and Taylor will be here soon. They were on their way back from practice,” she explains after she takes a drink of the fruity cocktail Martha places in front of her.

“Brad’s at work as well. He refused to call in dead to play hooky with me,” Dylan says while chasing Arden around the pool with an inflatable pineapple.

Arden’s deathly afraid of pineapples, and when everyone found out, it became their life’s mission to torment him whenever they could.

Megan’s giggles fill the air, and I can’t help but smile.

“There’s someone at your front door,” the robotic voice from Arden’s phone announces. I cannot understand why that’s his doorbell sound.

Normal people just have a ding dong.

Arden’s far from normal.

“I’ll get it,” I say, getting up from my chair and slipping my thongs onto my feet.

My wet shoes squeak on the tiles as I make my way through the house to the front door.

Nothing could prepare me for who was on the other side.

Standing there, looking completely out of place, is Justin. I’ve been ignoring him since the night I left him at Grumpy’s. He’s always known that this was just casual.

He was just there to scratch an itch.

Nothing more.

“Justin, what are you doing here?” I stutter.

“Who the hell is Justin?” Taylor asks. It’s then I realise that Grayson, Roman, and Taylor are standing behind Justin, their jaws practically on the floor as they stare at him.

“That’s Justin,” I answer, waving my hand at him.

“No, that’s Camden, captain of the Neverland Pirates,” Taylor answers, and now it’s my turn to pick my jaw off the floor.

“What?” I ask, confused as hell.

“This guy is a legend at school. Taylor idolises him,” Roman says, pushing past us to go into the house. “I’m going to find my girlfriend,” he throws over his shoulder before walking away to find Vada.

“I’m a big fan, man,” Taylor fumbles before scurrying into the house. Grayson follows him, just shaking his head.

I look at Justin or Camden or whoever the hell he is. “I’m confused.”

He kicks at a leaf, avoiding looking at me. “Sorry, I planned to tell you, but it never felt like the right time.”

Everything clicks. “You gave me a fake name the first time we met?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.

He finally looks at me. “Yeah, I did. I was in a bad place and looking for an escape. You were a good distraction. Sorry I lied to you,” he explains sincerely.

“No need to apologise; it just threw me for a second. I get it, but why are you here?” I don’t care that he lied to me. He was a distraction for me as well. I can’t be angry at him for using me the same way I used him.

“I just wanted to check on you after the other night, make sure you were okay.” He stares behind me, and that’s when I feel Rhys’s presence. I don’t need to turn around to confirm; I know it’s him.

“I’m good. You don’t need to worry about me.” Rhys steps closer. I can feel his heat on my back, and subconsciously, I step back into him. He doesn’t touch me, but it’s enough for Camden to know what is going on. Understanding shows on his face.

Camden steps closer to me and places a soft kiss on my cheek before he speaks, “Goodbye, Ally,” in my ear. He turns and walks away.

I stare at his retreating back, trying to sort through my thoughts. Closing this part of my life is a good thing, right?

Rhys doesn’t say anything; just takes my hand and pulls me back through the house and out to the backyard with our friends.

After the sun goes down and Isabelle takes the girls home, Yasmin suggests we play a poolside game of Never Have I Ever. It’s unruly and full of laughter. Rhys keeps glancing at me, watching me with that same intensity that makes it hard to breathe.

“Never have I ever kissed someone in this backyard,” Ashley says, raising her brows.

Everyone groans.

Ella drinks. Arden does too. So does Chase.

I glance down at my untouched drink, then across the circle at Rhys.

His eyes are already on me. He lifts his cup and takes a slow sip.

My breath catches.

He’s not subtle.

Neither am I when I follow.

Yasmin raises an eyebrow but says nothing. The group keeps laughing, but I can feel the shift like people are starting to really see it.

Later, the air cools slightly. I sit alone on the edge of the pool, dipping my feet in.

Rhys joins me without a word.

“You okay?” he asks.

I nod. “Just thinking.”

“That sounds like it hurts.” He jokes.

“Ha ha, don’t be a jerk.” I retort, losing myself to my thoughts again. I love we can still be us.

We sit in silence for a minute. Then, he nudges my foot with his.

“I liked today,” he says softly.

“Me too.”

He turns to me. “Even the part where Arden nearly drowned Chase?”

I grin. “Especially that part.”

His smile fades slightly, and there’s a pause.

“You seemed off for a minute earlier,” he says. “When we were playing.”

I sigh. “I got a little lightheaded. It passed.”

His brow furrows. “Ally?—"

“I’m fine. I swear. Just a moment.”

He doesn’t look convinced, but he lets it go.

“You know,” he says after a long pause, “it’s getting harder not to touch you in front of them.”

I swallow hard. “They’re starting to notice.”

“I know. I don’t even care if they do.”

I look at him then, really look at him. He means it.

And that scares me in the best possible way.

I bump his shoulder with mine, forcing a smile. “You trying to make a scene in front of everyone?”

“Maybe I am.”

But he doesn’t move. Doesn’t push. Just waits.

And eventually, I lean in.

Just enough.

Enough for him to know I’m not running.

Not today.

Not anymore.