Chapter 14

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A/N: Dedicated to @InspiredByAngels, because smileys, that's why! You know, what I'm talking about, Isabelle ;)

PS: When someone orders coffee, but doesn't intend to drink it at the café/coffee shop, it's called an order "to go", right? I googled it to see if that was correct, but didn't get a good answer.

*****

"I cannot believe you did that," Winnie repeated for about a tenth time.

"I cannot believe I did that," I stated and took a huge gulp from my juice through the striped straw.

"Yeah, but I cannot..." Winnie, whose eyes were still double their size began, but was cut off:

"Alright already! Neither of you can believe that Riley did whatever he did," Jenny hissed as she passed by our table to serve the clients. Both Winnie and I grinned; we'd never liked the bratty teenager. She was more often found reading magazines or flirting with clients than serving them. Today, however, the Milk and Cream was crammed so she had no choice; she actually had to do what she was paid for. It was pissing her off in a major way, we could tell by how her black brows which contrasted with her bleached hair knitted; what was making her angrier was that Winnie and I didn't start our shifts for another hour so instead of working, we were sitting around a table, chatting; what was making Jenny almost furious was the fact that since she was busy, she couldn't eavesdrop on us talking.

We both took a sip of our drinks – Winnie's was a frappé – before going back to our conversation.

"Seriously, Riley, what made you do that?"
"I don't know!" I exclaimed and leaned back in the chair. "I wanted to know more about Rhys and his community so I thought that a dinner with his family might give me the chance to do that. Besides, I knew it would make him happy; you should've seen the way his face lit up when I agreed to do it. So yeah, I think it was those things that made me say yes, but now I think it's too soon..."
"I'd say it's too soon!" Winnie snorted as she brought the straw of her drink to her lips. "You've known the guy for what? A month and a half?"
"Give or take," I replied. "Compared to how long we've known each other – it's sort of soon-ish, but I guess acceptable; compared to how long we've been dating..." I let out a sigh and stared at the table.

It was totally Rhys' fault; I blamed his charming shyness and how secured he made me feel. It was hard to say no to him, especially when I realized how much this meant to him. And now I was even more worried that I would mess up. I wouldn't be surprised if I really did break his mom's favorite vase or burned down his dad's tool shed... Or the house.

"Call him and tell him you've changed your mind," Winnie suggested. "I think he'll understand."

The corners of my mouth lifted up in a sad smile; I was sure Rhys would understand, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't be disappointed. He'd try to hide it for my sake, so that I wouldn't feel guilty – I was sure he would – but he would be upset.

"Riley," Winona poked with her finger the hand that I held my glass with. "Just ask yourself if you really want to go to this dinner and if the answer is no, then don't force yourself."

"I want to go, but I'm scared," I admitted quietly. "Rhys' family is everything to him; what if they don't like me?"

Just like Rhys had done, Winnie laughed; unlike his brief giggle, her guffaw was long and loud. Costumers turned their heads towards our table, Jenny's frown grew even bigger and Tim, who today worked as a barista instead of a waiter, gave me a sympathetic smile before handing a cup to one of the dozen patrons who sat at the bar; his fiancée's unrestrained laughter had often brought him disapproving looks by association.

"Will you cut it out?" I leaned across the table and covered her mouth with my hand. She just pushed it away and continue to laugh although she lowered the volume. "What's so funny?"

"You, hun, you," she explained, wiping a tear off her eye. "Riley, you are one of the nicest people in the world, totally adorable too; how can they not like you?"

"Not everybody likes me, Winnie," I protested.

"Homophobes aside," she slurped through her straw before she continued, "children love you, teenage girls love you, teenage boys don't care about you but that's different from not liking you," she began to enlist and each time she mentioned a new group, one of her fingers would spring up from her fisted hand. "Ages twenty to thirty or maybe even forty are 'whatever' about you and seniors absolutely adore you."

"You are talking about costumers, Winnie," I noted. "Rhys' family doesn't fall under that category."

"Rhys has three brothers, two of whom you've already met, right?" I nodded. "You said Kennedy really liked you and that Everett seems to like you..."
"I think; I said that I think he likes me," I corrected, but she went on as if I hadn't spoken at all.

"That just leaves the teenage brother and the parents. Now, I doubt they have something against gay people as their son is one and they love him so what can possibly go wrong?" I opened my mouth to tell her of all the scenarios that I came up with on this topic which included the most ridiculous things like Rhys' parents telling him that when he was a baby, they'd arranged to marry him off to the daughter of some friends of theirs and that throughout his entire life he's actually been engaged, but she spoke before I got that chance; probably a good thing too, as she would've no doubted burst into laughter again.

"Besides, you have Keri on your side and she's one of Rhys' closest friends."

It was true: I did have Keri's blessing. She'd come by a couple of times to order a coffee to go and we'd chatted. She was much more open than her brother Anthony, who'd been with her; I was getting over my fear of the Bullets even with their dominating presence, but Anthony and Alec were an exception.

The former never smiled. Never. He'd walk in and scan the Milk and Cream with his eyebrows knitted. He'd take everything in: the position of the tables and exits, how many people were on shift, how many clients there were... It was almost as if he expected the staff or patrons to attack him. It got even worse if someone were to accidently walk near Keri; Anthony's whole body would tighten up and his eyes would narrow at the unlucky passerby. Talk about overprotective siblings!

He also didn't talk much, only when his sister would ask him a question and his answers would always be concise. All the anxiety that oozed from him transferred to me and made me jittery.

The latter didn't just make me nervous though; he terrified me. Thankfully, I hadn't seen Alec since that day I first met Keri, but the memory of him was enough to make my blood run cold. I'd always thought that the Silver Bullets had a feral air about them, but there was something different about that boy... I couldn't put my finger on it, but he felt different, as if he was something else...

"So when is it?" I turned my head to Winnie - apparently I'd been staring through the window while thinking about Keri and the rest - and saw her sucking the last of her frappé through the straw.

"Huh?"

"The dinner with Rhys' parents, duh," she rolled her pretty eyes.

"Oh, that... That's Saturday night," I sighed, already nervous for something that wouldn't happen for another four days.

"Do you want me to help you pick an outfit?" She got up, taking her glass. I followed her lead and we walked towards the back of the café to get ready for our shift, leaving the glasses in the small kitchen to be washed.

"Nah, I hope I'll manage," I replied and then added in my mind: something long-sleeved, that's for sure. I didn't want Rhys or his family to see my scars.

"If you change your mind, you know where to find me, hun," she said, opening her locker to pick out her apron.

"Yeah, thanks," I nodded and did the same as her.

*****

"Do I have anything between my teeth?"

"The answer is still no, Riley; you haven't eaten anything since you last asked me five minutes ago," Rhys replied patiently and stopped the car at a red light.

"What about my hair?" I went on and pulled the visor down so I could check myself in the mirror on its inside. "Does it..."

"Your hair looks amazing, your clothes look amazing, you are amazing." Rhys grabbed my chin and turned my face towars him giving me a quick but gentle peck before turning his attention back on the road just as the light shone green.

"Did we take the wine?" I lifted off my seat and twisted to look at the back of the car.

"Get back to your seat, Riley," the order was stern; he even let go of the steering wheel to push me down with one hand.

I assumed my previous position and looked out of the window in shame; I was his boyfriend, yet Rhys had had to restrain me like a little child.

"I have some good news," he said after a few minutes of silence. "The hunter left town early this morning."

My head whipped his way.

"That is good news," I exclaimed but my smile dimmed when I took in his face. The corners of his lips were turned up, but his mouth was set in a tight line. He was keeping his eyes on the road - typical of Rhys when he drove - but he seemed too concentrated on it, almost as he was avoiding to gaze at me.

"That is good news, Rhys, so why aren't you happy?" I asked slowly, mindful of his reaction.

"I am," he licked his lips, "I am happy."

I kept observing him without saying a word. After a couple of minutes, he could no longer take the silence so he went on, somewhat reluctantly.

"Alec has gone missing."
My body tensed up at the name, not at the fact that he'd disappeared. I took a deep breath to relax and tried to appear concerned; he was Rhys' nephew after all.

"You think that might have something to do with the bounty hunter?" I suggested. "Does Alec have any reason to start trouble with that guy?"

"Boredom."

His reply had me gaping. I rearranged my position on the seat so I could take him all in: straight stance, muscled arms, knitted bushy eyebrows and everything.

"Boredom?" I repeated to make sure I'd heard him correctly and he nodded.

"You'd be surprised at what lengths that boy would go through to add a little excitement to his life." His tone was harsh and disapproving. "Maybe Alec got bored with us and that's why he left... Those guys who were keeping an eye on the hunter said they hadn't seen the boy around. Then again, he's good at not being seen; stealth is very important to them..." He pursed his lips as if he'd said too much and I let out a sigh, my gaze aiming at the rear window again.

Rhys kept saying he wanted a serious relationship with me and at this very moment was driving me to meet his parents, yet he still kept secrets from me. I suspected that was because his secrets involved other people and that if it was up to him, he'd share much more, but even so, I couldn't ignore the feeling of rejection that crept inside of me.

"At least Alec got off Keri's case," he said in a forcefully cheery tone. "He'd been giving her a hard time." I didn't reply and he slowed down the car. I wondered why he'd do that, but I realized it was so we could catch another red light; while we waited for the color to change, he took the opportunity to cover my hand with his and run his finger in that soothing caress I'd grown to love.

"That's one more reason why I want you to meet my parents, Riley," he uttered softly. "I want you to get to know all of us as a community and to trust us and I want for my friends to trust you in turn. I won't have to hide things from you then; I will be able to tell you everything."

I pulled his hand to my lips and kissed it, my mouth already forming into a smile. Rhys squeezed my hand before he let it go and drove off, his expression mirroring mine. That was it. I no longer cared about Alec or the bounty hunter, I no longer felt left out and even some of the anxiety about meeting his parents was lifted off of my shoulders. That was all it took: one small gesture and a few words of support and affection and I felt that I would do everything to make this guy feel as cared for as he made me feel.

"We are here," Rhys announced, stopping the car.

*****

A/N: Any ideas why Alec might feel as 'something else' to Riley?

How do you think the dinner with Rhys' family would go?

Were Rhys and Winnie right to think that Mr. and Mrs. Flemings would love Riley or does the boy have a valid reason to be worried?

Don't forget to VOTE for the chapter if you enjoyed it and have a great time on wattpad, everybody!

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