Page 3

THREE

RHYS

I f this wasn’t the weirdest day of my life, I don’t know what is.

I shouldn’t have done any of that with Teddy, but I’ve been into him for years, and when he jumped me in the courtyard after the day I’ve had, I couldn’t stop myself.

But none of that was on my bingo card.

I almost invited him to follow but thoughts of Tobi stop me. I need the walk home to process all of it. I can’t add my best friend being mad at me to everything that’s gone on today. I still haven’t confronted my mom about the trust fund, which I’m sure will happen the second I see her.

But still I’m sad he didn’t follow me home, so I could make him suck my cock. He’d look so damn pretty on his knees.

What do I even say? Why the fuck are you making my life harder and hiding my money from me?

I climb the stairs to our apartment and use my key, just hoping she’s asleep.

But she’s not.

She’s sitting at the kitchen table when I walk in. I hang up my coat and put my keys in the bowl, gathering my thoughts. I’m suddenly glad Teddy delayed my homecoming, having this conversation drunk would suck.

“Hi, Mom. How was your day?” I walk past her, getting a glass from the cabinet, then I fill it at the tap and take a sip, not looking at her. I’m trying not to explode but I can feel it coming.

“What did the lawyer say?” she asks, skipping the small talk.

I turn to face her, leaning against the counter. “It wasn’t a nominal amount like we expected.” My hands are shaking.

She lied to me about money—what else did she lie to me about? Everything?

“Oh?” she asks, and I can’t help but think this is a show. She had to know, right? If she knew about the trust fund, there is no way she wouldn’t assume I’d be a part of the will?

“Yeah. Did you know?” I can’t be fucking subtle. I don’t have it in me to ask nicely or beat around the fucking bush. I need to know.

“About what?” she asks, clutching her teacup with both hands.

“About my trust fund? Or maybe his leaving me part of his company? Any of it?” I want to ask her if he wanted to know me, or if he had plans for me, but I don’t dare. This is bad enough. I hadn’t seen him since they broke up a few years ago. I always assumed he left her for someone younger, but maybe there was more to it.

“Trust fund?” she says carefully, not making eye contact.

“The lawyer told me all about it. Don’t tell me you didn’t know.” I grind my teeth, trying to temper my anger.

“It wasn’t the right time.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, still trying to be nice.

“You had a lot going on with hockey. I didn’t want you to stop playing.”

“Why would I stop playing?” I ask, annoyance creeping into my tone.

She finally looks up, searching my face.

“Say it,” I demand.

“I think you need to keep playing juniors to give yourself more time to develop. It will only make you better.”

I scrub a hand over my face and almost laugh. “Better for what? I have offers from a bunch of schools. I’ve already put college off a year, and I’m good enough to play in college. A couple more years in juniors wouldn’t help me, and even if I stayed in juniors, how would I keep it up with a job? We could have used my trust fund to help pay the rent!” I’m yelling and I don’t mean to. I take a deep breath and lower my voice. “There’s no reason for me not to be in school.”

“I think you’ll be better if you give it more time before you play in college. Then you can get a full ride, and you won’t have to spend any of your money.”

“I don’t need to spend my money—I can spend his!”

“Why pay for something you can get for free?” she chides.

“Money doesn’t even matter anymore! I have enough of it.” I don’t know if I should laugh or what?

Does she really not get it?

“Why would you even want his money?” She gets to her feet like she can scold me and put me in my place like she used to when I was younger.

“Is that what this is about?” I ask, pulling at my hair. “You took his money for the last eighteen years.”

“Only because I had to!”

“And I shouldn’t?”

“Have you been drinking?” She gasps, pulling back to get a better look at me.

“My father died, and I realized my mother has been lying. I think I’m entitled to a drink.” I should have stayed at Tobi’s. I should have gone back in with Teddy and not done this tonight.

“Look at his sons and how they act. You are not them. You will never be them, and they will hate you for trying. You are not a part of their world.” She is right, but I hate her a little for saying it.

“I don’t want to be them.”

“But you want to go to their school and run their companies? They will eat you alive.” So she did know.

I narrow my eyes. “I can stand on my own.”

“You know nothing of rich people’s games. I played and you see how it turned out for me.”

I reel at her answer. “Are you kidding? You may hate him but he’s the reason we live here. You could have left him any time. You could have found someone else. It didn’t have to be this way.”

I shove off the counter going to my room. I can’t keep fighting with her. It’s pointless.

When I get to my room, the entire encounter with Teddy comes rushing back. It’s better than focusing on all the shit with my family. I’d much rather be with him. Why hadn’t I stayed?

It hasn’t even been twenty minutes since I came and I already need to again. I need a release from all of the damn emotions today. I shove off my slacks and wrap my hand around my cock, stroking over myself lightly. I wish it was his lips. The image alone is almost enough to make me come on the spot. The way he looked at me and the hunger in his eyes. Why had I never noticed it before?

Part of me wants to go back there. His parents aren’t home. I could use my key and surprise him in his room.

Fuck.

I have practice early and I need to sleep.

I keep stroking while I imagine sneaking into his room when he’s asleep and waking him up with my cock. The shock that would be written all over him, which would quickly turn into need. I lift my hips, fucking my dick into my hand like I would his mouth, and the idea of rubbing my tip on his lips until he wakes up is enough to make me shoot all over my hand.

I breathe hard as I come down.

That was a little fucked up, but that doesn’t make me want to do it any less.

But what am I going to do with it?

I wake up to a text. I’m not sure how I should feel about it.

Teddy: And I didn’t even get a thank you.

What the fuck?

Rhys: Is that something that’s expected?

Teddy: wut would u rather have double or nothing?

Rhys: double what?!

Teddy: r u challenging me?

I can’t figure out what he means.

Rhys: To what?

Why is he even up?

Teddy: 2 wut indeed?

I rub my eyes, not awake enough for this.