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EIGHT

RHYS

T he next morning, I wake up to an alert.

Teddy changed Rhys’ contact to The Enemy.

I pick up my phone and change his before I get out of bed.

Rhys changed Teddy’s contact to Likes To Suck Gods’ Dick.

That will annoy him. But Teddy is true to his word. He doesn’t say a word. I don’t care, or so I tell myself. School gets busy and I push it out of my mind. What else can I do? Between him being my best friend’s older brother and him thinking I’m the enemy, it’s never going to work out.

Our first official game is this week, which means I need to get my head out of my ass and focus if I want time on the ice. I’m the youngest on the team, and I know how the competition is. They don’t care what my last name is, only if I can play. Coach Hawke isn’t like a lot of the other college hockey coaches which I like.

My phone rings and I check the caller but it’s blocked. That’s weird.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Rhys, this is Owen, your half-brother.”

My blood runs cold.

“You there?” Owen asks.

“What’s up?” I say, determined not to let this bother me. They don’t have to like me. I’m part of their lives now. It doesn’t matter if any of us like it.

“I hate the phone and I’m not trying to call to annoy you, but when you didn’t answer my text I knew I had to call and clear the air before we’re all meant to be at the dedication of our father’s building next week.”

“What?” I don’t have a clue what he’s talking about.

“The building? The Godfrey building?” he asks, like I’m meant to know.

“No clue.”

“Father donated the money for The Godfrey School Of Business building. It’s kinda hard to miss.”

“Did he?” I’m suddenly annoyed. “I don’t know how you’d expect me to know any of this. I’ve been kept from all of you my entire life.”

He sighs. “I know, and I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“No, but when you found out, your twin made it damn well clear he would do everything in his power to keep it that way.” I barely keep my tone in check.

“Oliver doesn’t like change. He’s not good at feelings either. He had a very complicated relationship with our father before his death and he’s taking it hard, especially considering your existence came as a huge shock to us. He needs some time to process it all.” Owen rambles and doesn’t even take a pause to breathe. “Not that any of that is an excuse for what he said or how he acted, but since I’m sure you’ll be invited next week?—”

“Why? What’s the point of inviting me?” I feel a little like a dick, but I can’t be bothered not to in this moment.

“I wanted to get to know you. My husband and I want to know if you’d meet us for coffee or something.” His words leave me speechless. “Rhys?”

“Why?” I finally ask.

“Because you’re my brother.”

“You’re not going to piss off your twin?”

Owen hesitates. “That’s not that hard to do. He’ll get over it.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Very.” He laughs. “Have coffee with us and if you don’t like what you hear, you can tell us to fuck off.”

“Okay,” I say against my better judgement but a little part of me wants this. “When and where?”

“What are your classes like today?”

I arrange to meet him and his husband an hour before I have to be at practice so I can have an excuse to leave.

I get to the coffee shop early to scope the place out. I’m not a coffee drinker. We never had the money for it growing up or so I thought, so I didn’t go with my friends to do stuff like that. All our spare money went to hockey fees.

I order a tea and turn, finding Owen’s husband standing behind me looking me over. “Hi.”

“Those good genes are strong in the Godfreys’.” Colin elbows his husband who looks embarrassed.

“Sorry. I can’t take him anywhere.” Owen tries to smile but it’s pretty fake.

“Nice to see you again,” I say, not really sure how to answer any of that.

“The pleasure is mine.” Colin stands with his hands on his hips, wearing jeans and a crop hoodie that doesn’t cover his nipples. Which kind of defeats the purpose but it’s good for him. He and my brother seem like the most unlikely couple. I need to get that story out of them. “You two go sit. I’ll get us coffee, baby.”

Thankfully, it’s dead in here during the afternoon lull between classes and dinner.

Owen shuffles over to a table in the corner. “How’s school going? You settling in okay?”

I nod. “It’s pretty good. Busy with hockey.”

“I can imagine. Any sport at that level is intense.”

Colin saunters over, putting a drink in front of Owen before sitting down. “This is so exciting.”

I lift my brows.

“He even makes the same faces you and Oliver do. I love it.” Colin claps.

I glance at Owen like he’s going to have the answers. “Is your husband okay?”

“He likes to annoy my brother. It’s kind of a game between them.” Owen exhales heavily. “It’s just about the only weapon we have to put him in his place on occasion. You can’t really blame him.”

“You’re okay with that?” I ask.

Owen shrugs. “It’s pretty funny, and it got him off my back. Plus, my therapist thinks a little humor keeps my demons at bay. I can’t be sure of that, but it has been a while since I thought about taking a toaster bath so…”

I blink and then laugh. Maybe I do like Owen against my better judgment. “Is this advice or?” I’m not sure what to make of any of this.

“It could be. But I didn’t tell you anything.” Colin mimes zipping his lips. “But if you want to keep meeting in secret for tips , call me.”

“Don’t do that. You know he’ll have us followed!” Owen mutters with a sigh.

“What?” It’s almost worth having coffee with them to get a glimpse into how the other side lives.

“That’s how Oliver found out we were really married and not fake married.”

“Pardon me? Fake married?”

“It’s a long story.” Owen tips his head back. “And it doesn’t make me look the best.”

“I have time.” I sip my tea.

“Don’t make me tell it,” Owen groans.

“Don’t worry I will!” Colin says and then launches into an epic tale of what really is fake marriage into real marriage, including a whole thing about Oliver having their naked pictures.

“So he just pulled out your porn stills in front of you with a straight face?” I ask, astonished. And I thought my fucking life was weird.

“When you say it that way.” Owen makes a face.

“When I say it that way?! I don’t think there is normal time to have your sibling followed by a PI.”

“You’d be surprised. I can think of half a dozen reasons.” Owen lifts a shoulder.

“Six?!” I cut myself off and throw my hands up. “Actually, don’t tell me. And this is what I have to look forward to?”

“If you cause a big enough issue…solid maybe.” Owen mutters. “But that’s not the worst part. The worst part is when he really decides something and whatever you want goes against that. Then he gets nasty.”

“And that’s why you’re here?” I think I’m starting to understand why Owen wants a truce.

“Partly.” Owen pauses for a second. “But also, because Colin thought it would be a good idea to not let you face Oliver’s wrath alone.”

“And I also think you’ll annoy him. He seems to have gotten too used to me and I thought I’d liven things up,” Colin says with a massive grin.

“So I’m a pawn.”

Owen and Colin both shake their heads.

“No,” Owen says. “We are offering you an olive branch, and help understanding Oliver?—”

Colin cuts him off. “So you don’t have to deal with his worst when you inevitably piss him off not even knowing how you did or meaning to.”

Owen points at Colin. “That happens a lot. I do it almost daily.”

“So what are you telling me to do?” I ask carefully, still not sure what to make of all of this.

“We aren’t telling you to do anything. I would like for us to get along?—”

Colin cuts him off. “He means for Oliver to tolerate you so he can get to know you.”

“Yes. But I think Oliver will want to too. You’re our brother. That means something to me.” Owen finishes quietly, and I believe him.

“And I want to see how much it annoys Oliver until he eventually accepts you,” Colin adds.

“Do you really think that’s going to happen?” I ask skeptically.

“Yes, he is fearfully loyal to family and once he sees you as our brother, he will be.”

I want to believe Owen so bad, but I just can’t see it happening. “He seemed pretty against that.”

“He’ll come around when he sees you aren’t a threat.” Owen may think he’s reassuring me, but I’m not so sure he is.

“What do I have to do to not be a threat?” I’m stuck in this damn place of wanting what Owen is offering, but also hating Oliver for not liking me. I didn’t ask for any of this.

Owen sighs, taking his cup in both hands. “It’s not like that.”

“It sounds a little like that.”

Owen nods. “Oliver means well. He wants to protect the family name and the company. It will take time, but we’re on your side.”

“But you want me to take some of Oliver’s shit in the process?”

Owen tips his head from side to side. “Not exactly, just try not to completely piss him off for the time being so we can ease him into it. He needs baby steps.”

“And you want me to go to this opening thing?”

“You’ll be invited either way. You are his son, you go to this school. But it would be a good time to start easing Oliver into the idea of you.” Owen smiles kindly and I want to like him.

But I make the decision then and there to stick it to Oliver. Owen may put up with his crap, and that’s his choice, but I’m not going to be quiet. If he doesn’t like me and accept me, I’m about to make it his problem. Owen and I can form a relationship if he’s okay with that. If not, he’ll have to deal with it as much as Oliver will. I’m not going to hide any longer.

And I have an idea of how to start that.

Rhys: I have an idea.

Tobi: After having coffee with your brother? That doesn’t sound good.

Rhys: Or maybe it’s great.

Tobi: Lay it on me.

Rhys: Want to come as my date to a thing where my family will be?

Tobi: Your date? What? Why?

Tobi: I’m going to need more information.

Tobi: Is this a serious thing?

Tobi: And why your date?

Tobi: I need all the information here.

He’s clearly freaking out, so I give him a recap of what happened.

Rhys: I want to like Owen, but the conversation doesn’t sit right with me. How can I just let Oliver do whatever he wants? Even if it would make my life easier.

Tobi: where do I come into that?

Rhys: Moral support. You can give me ideas and help me get a feel for them. I don’t want to face the four of them alone.

Rhys: It leaves me out numbered.

Tobi: I can do that. But you want to pretend to be a couple?

Rhys: I have to tell them something. It’s going to be weird to say I’m bringing my best friend right? Like I can’t face them alone.

Tobi: But you’re not out. You won’t date anyone publicly.

Rhys: I’m still not publicly. It’s just for them.

Tobi: You don’t think they’ll out you?

Rhys: I’m not worried about that. They have husbands.

Tobi: Okay. I’ll go with you.

I don’t know why he’s acting weird about this. He doesn’t suspect something with me and Teddy, does he? I hope not.