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“So, Garrett slept over last night.”
My mum’s mouth opens to speak, but I hold up my finger and raise my brows. She snaps her mouth shut and nods for me to continue.
“I don’t want to break his trust in me, so all I can tell you is that his dad is back from prison, and things aren’t good. You will know when you see him what I mean. Please don’t react to his face. He needed a place to stay, and he turned up at my window. I was not and never will turn him or any of my guys away when they are in a crisis.” I sigh, “Also, he wasn’t able to get any of his things last night, so he doesn’t have a uniform to wear to the exam today. Can you please make sure that isn’t a problem and no teachers bug him about it? I just want him to have the opportunity to go to the exam and do his best.”
When I’m finished speaking, I give my mum a nod, and she sucks in a big breath.
“Thank you for telling me, Rhys. I appreciate your honesty. I’ll make sure he isn’t bothered about his lack of uniform, but you know my duty of care means I will have to look into his family situation now that I know there is possibly something wrong. Do you think he will talk to me about it?”
I shrug. “Maybe. Can it wait until after the exam?”
My mum gives me a soft smile. “Of course.” She steps forward, placing her hands on either side of my head, and leans in to press a kiss to my hair. “Please get ready quickly. I’ve made a big breakfast today, and I’d really like you to join us. Garrett too.”
Well, fuck. My emotions nearly get the better of me, so I don’t say anything, but I nod and smile, watching my mum open my bedroom door and leave. It’s at that very moment that the bathroom door swings open, and I dart forward to stand in my doorway, taking in Garrett’s deer in headlights moment.
My poor Big Guy.
“Good morning, Garrett.” My mum’s voice is cheery and lacks her authoritative school principal tone. “Breakfast is ready. I’ll see you and Rhys in the kitchen soon.”
“Uh… Yeah. Yes, sure. Thank you.” Garrett stumbles his way through his words, and I have to bite my lip to stop from smiling. I fail, because as soon as my mum walks away and his icy-blues land on me, he grins back at me.
“What the fuck just happened?” He whispers, coming towards me quickly as if he’s worried my dad will jump out any second.
I sure hope my mum is on her way to warn my dad to behave. I hope he’s not going to react like he did with Ty. That was scary.
Garrett pushes me back into my bedroom, closing the door and presses me against the wall, caging me in.
“Uh. I may have told my mum that you slept over.”
His eyes narrow at my words. “And?”
“And she’s cool with it.” I flutter my lashes, but he rolls his eyes.
“She is not cool with it. Aren’t you meant to be grounded?”
“Well, yes, but under the circumstances…” I feel a pang in my chest as his eyes drop to the floor. Is he angry at me? “I didn’t say too much. Just that things at home aren’t good.”
His eyes dart up. “It’s ok, Baby Girl. I’m not upset. I just hate people knowing. It’s hard enough going to a school for rich kids and pretending to be one of you. I’m not a fan of people knowing what happens in my family.”
“Gar,” I lift his chin until his eyes meet mine again. “I understand completely, and FYI, FP Catholic is not for rich kids. Just because you’re there on a scholarship doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be there. Hell, you deserve to be there more than most of the entitled fucks that attend the school. And as for my mum knowing. She only wants to help.”
Garrett told me about what happened with his dad last night, not long after we snuggled up in my bed. He’s worried about his mum and his sisters, but if he went back home last night, it may have made things worse. I’m so glad he came to me.
Leaning in, Garrett presses his forehead to mine, looking at me through the fan of his dark lashes. Then he cups my face and kisses me. Thoroughly. I love the way he claims me with each kiss, searing his invisible brand on me. It’s intoxicating. His scent, which is fragranced with my own, wraps around us both, and I’m one hundred percent certain that I’ll never be able to live a life without Garrett Cole in it.
Before his kiss can heat my entire body, he slowly pulls back and stares into my eyes.
“Thank you, Rhys.”
I smile softly at him, trying not to shy away from his gratitude. I get the same feeling I get when someone compliments me, and I know I still have a lot to work on with my own self-doubts. I’m a work in progress, I guess.
After another few minutes of hugging, I dash into the bathroom to get myself ready and opt to leave my face fully make-up-free today. Sure, you can still see the bruising on my eye, but Garrett’s can’t be hidden, so I’m not going to hide mine, either.
When we join the rest of my family for breakfast, Char bites back a stupid smile while the twins bounce around excitedly to see Garrett, and my dad spends a good few minutes watching us as we dish up food onto our plates. We both pretend not to notice his eyes examining the situation, but when I finally make eye contact with him, he gives me a warm smile as we take a seat at the table.
“Good morning, Rhys. Garrett.” My dad says, and I smile around the piece of toast I’m biting into.
“Hey Dad.”
