Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“Here,” Rhys said quietly. “Let me do that for you.”
“Oh,” I replied, my voice breathier than intended. “Sure.”
A second later, he took the bottle from me, his fingers sliding along mine before he squirted a small amount of sunscreen into the palm of his hand. I watched him, my pulse spiking, then turned around to grant him access to my back. I didn’t need to hold my hair because it was already tied up, but I stilled when I felt him brush aside a few of the strands that had fallen free.
Next, his large, warm hand spread across the centre of my back, and I sucked in a sharp breath. I knew he heard when his hand paused before he asked, “You okay?”
I turned my head slightly, glancing at him over my shoulder. “Mm-hmm.”
A moment passed as our gazes held, and goose bumps rose on my arms. I hoped he didn’t notice. It was startling to realise that this quiet, unassuming boy had an effect on me no one else had before. There was just something about him. His energy drew me in. And his eyes, the way he was looking at me right then, it made my pulse spike in a new and unexpected way.
Rhys resumed applying the sun screen. The sun warming my back was nothing compared to his hands. The salty sea air filled my senses, combined with the coconut-scented sunscreen. Seagulls cawed in the distance and nearby families laughed and chattered; kids squealed in delight as they built sandcastles.
Rhys’ fingertips traced down my spine then travelled over the curve of each shoulder blade, his thumbs rubbing in a distractingly soothing motion over the expanse of exposed skin. His warmth and closeness seemed to be everywhere as I momentarily closed my eyes, lost to sensation. I sucked in another sharp breath when his fingers glided over the nape of my neck. His hand stilled for the briefest second before resuming.
I felt every sweep of his fingers across my skin as he quietly rubbed in the cream. Too soon, his touch was gone, and he handed me back the sunscreen bottle just as his phone began vibrating.
Yet again, he pulled it out and glowered, but this time, he didn’t end the call. Instead, he answered, “Yeah?” A silence followed, and I could just about make out a gruff, angry voice talking to him on the other end. Something squeezed in my stomach. I didn’t like the tone of whoever was talking to him—his father, most likely.
Rhys looked stressed, his profile in relief against the sunny, sandy backdrop of the beach. He ran a hand through his hair. “Look, I’ll be there in half an hour, okay?”
The gruff voice responded with something else before Rhys hung up and let out a weary sigh.
“Everything okay?” I asked, a little worried.
Rhys nodded. “It’s fine.” His expression turned apologetic. “I have to go. Can you let the others know something came up, and I’ll see them later?”
“Sure, of course,” I replied, wanting to ask more questions, offer help if he needed it, but we didn’t know each other that well yet, and I shouldn’t pry.
Rhys packed up his things and stood. “See you, Charli,” he said, seeming regretful to be leaving.
“Yeah, see you,” I replied as he went.
I watched him walk back in the direction where we’d left the car until he slowly disappeared into the crowd, all the while wondering what was going on with his dad and why he’d had to leave so abruptly.
5.
Rhys
My face fucking hurt.
I was about to start the evening shift, and I just hoped no one noticed the dark bruise shading my jaw. The kitchen was usually so busy few people had time to look my way. Maybe I could get through it without anyone asking questions. The only problem was going back to my aunt and uncle’s house later tonight. One of them was sure to notice, and then I’d have to explain how I was stupid enough to go see my dad.
I stood in the empty staff room at the hotel, shoving a backpack full of clothes into my locker. It barely fit. I’d grabbed as much as I could from my bedroom while Dad shouted and threatened, calling me every ugly name under the sun.
He’d been waiting in the kitchen when I’d gotten home.
In the two days since we’d left, dirty dishes had piled up in the sink, and the bins were overflowing. I’d managed to ignore his calls for the past two days, but he’d threatened to make a missing person’s report on Mam if I didn’t get her to come home. I had no intention of doing that, and I needed to set him straight. Make him understand things weren’t going back to how they were.
“Where the fuck have you been?” he’d grunted when I’d stepped into the room. “And where’s your mother?”