AllFreeNovel
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“That group of boys are rare for our age. They want more from you than your coochie, Rhys. They want you to open up to them, to trust them. The war paint is a mask. Why not show them who Rhys George really is?”
I frown. “Can’t I do that and keep my war paint on?”
She smiles, “I think you’ll find you’ll be more yourself when you let yourself trust them completely. Showing them this version is showing them you trust them with your vulnerability.”
“You sound like a therapist.” I pout, and she giggles.
“I’m pretty sure my therapist has said something similar to me before. Turns out she’s worth the money.”
I grin and turn back to the mirror, staring into my own eyes.
Can you do this, Rhys? Can you show them the parts you hide?
My thoughts are cut off by Lexi and Bell joining us at the bench, and I take in Lexi’s natural beauty. She doesn’t hide behind a metaphorical mask anymore. She let down her walls, especially to Ayden, and now she has someone by her side. He’s willing to fight for her. Hell, hedidfight for her against her own dad. He’d do anything for her, and she’d do anything for him. I think I’m starting to get it. If she hadn’t let him in, then they wouldn’t have the secure relationship they have now.
But canIdo it? Can I really let them in completely? Does that mean I have to tell them everything? I’ve never told anyone everything. And what if I tell them, and they run for their lives in the opposite direction?
Fuck, when did I become such a pussy?
“Stop overthinking it.” Tillie’s voice is quiet next to my ear, and I glance at her reflection in the mirror. She offers me a small smile, and I nod, thankful for her distraction.
I decide to do it. I leave my makeup in the bag and put away my hair ties. I won’t be needing them tonight. I’m going to show my friends, all of them, not just my guys, who Rhys George really is under the bold makeup and fun hair buns.
I feel confident about my decision until we approach the campsite, and all eyes fall on me, lingering. Normally I like that. I thrive on it. Not now, though. Now I feel exposed. Like I’m being judged. As the girls veer off towards their tents to put their things away, I’m left to face eight males as their eyes study me.
My heart rate skyrockets and panic creeps in. Fuck. I shouldn’t have done this. I shouldn’t have shown them what I really look like. What the fuck was I thinking?
“Hey, Kitten.” Shaun smiles warmly, approaching me and kissing my cheek like I didn’t just flash them all my bare face. “Let me help you with these.”
I look away from the staring eyes to where Shaun pries my fingers open to take my bag, and then he links his fingers with mine, tugging me towards my tent. As we pass by Garrett, he stops for a moment to mutter something quietly that I can’t make out, and a moment later, we are slipping inside my tent.
I stand like a fucking mute while Shaun puts my bag down in the corner and turns back to me.
“What’s wrong, Kitten?”
“I… uh… Need to put my makeup on. I forgot.”
I move toward my bag, only making it a few steps before Shaun’s strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me back against him.
“Stop. Leaving it off is a good call.”
“Why?” I whisper, kind of scared of his answer.
“Well, aside from the fact that you are the most stunning creature on this earth, I think it will mean a lot to the guys that you are sharing this with them. It’s important that you be yourself with us.”
I spin in his arms and peer up into his steel-grey eyes. “What if myself is all that heavy makeup?”
Reaching up, Shaun brushes my hair back off the side of my face, letting his fingers glide all the way down its long length before he settles his hand on my lower back.
“The makeupispart of you,Kitten. But so is this,” he brushes the pads of his fingers down my cheek, “and it will show them you trust them. That’s big, Kitten.”
“But… they just stared at me. Like I was weird or something.”
Shaun chuckles and tugs me closer. “They were stunned by your beauty. There’s nothing weird about you.”
“But even Dale and Allister were staring.”
“Just because they are gay doesn’t mean they don’t admire beauty, Kitten. Shit, they’re probably questioning if they are gay or straight right now.”
