AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You never stopped loving him. You’ve honoured his memory, Ry. You and your friends have brought him home. He’s finally back with all the people who love him.” Ry nodded, blinking back a fresh stream of tears. We let him go, and he hugged his mum tightly. “You can all say goodbye to him properly now.”
“It’s like losing him all over again,” he whispered, his shoulders shaking as his mum comforted him. I wiped my eyes and leaned my forehead against his good shoulder, giving him a half hug. I wanted to wrap him in my arms, to comfort him the way I knew he needed, but he wasn’t out. Neither Kristy nor Roe had any idea that we were all together, and I wouldn’t betray Ry’s confidence by doing anything to force him out.
I shouldn’t have worried.
Ry let go of his mum and reached for me, hugging me to his side and pressing his forehead against mine. “I don’t want to wait anymore. Life is too fucking short.”
I nodded, my smile bittersweet.
He sucked in a shuddery breath, tears still clinging to his eyelashes, and nuzzled our noses together. Our faces were so close, I could reach up and kiss him, and the temptation to do it was overwhelming.
Ry murmured, “I haven’t said it to you before, but I’m in love with you, Flynn. You’re all everything I’ve ever wanted.”
His mum gasped, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at her. I couldn’t risk his happiness or my own by seeing disappointment in her gaze. My heart was filled with effervescent bubbles bursting in my chest, and I gripped his shirt harder, trying to stop myself from climbing him like a tree and clinging to him. Now that we had him, there was no way we were letting go of him. “I love you too,” I whispered.
I grinned, happiness radiating out of me like those bubbles were fireworks. Butterflies swooped in my belly, and I touched his cheek with my thumb, in awe of his bravery.
Ry was risking everything for us. He was coming out so that we could be open, so that he could share his truth. But his mum….
“Can I kiss you?” He grinned, and it was a sight to behold. He was beautiful when he was broody, but when he was happy, he was utterly breathtaking.
I basked in his adoration, unable to tear my gaze away from him.
Kristy made a noise that sounded oddly like a squeak. I didn’t know whether it was out of disgust or happiness.
Ry stilled, his smile turning forced. I pressed my hand to his cheek, keeping his face turned my way, and he gripped me tighter, holding onto me with shaking hands. With my heart in my throat, I looked at her.
She stood there, wide-eyed with a broad smile on her face, her gaze darting between us. She looked equal parts delighted and surprised, and I laughed, giddy at the way she’d clasped her hands together and was shifting her weight from side to side as if she couldn’t contain her excitement.
“My boy’s in love,” she squealed. There was a commotion behind her, but Ry had captured my chin and lifted my face to his. I saw the tension drain out of him, the worry lines creasing his brow smoothing out. His shoulders relaxed too. But in place of the fear, an intensity that drew me in like a magnet flared in his eyes.
I nodded, ensnared in those hazels. He pressed his lips to mine, his hand on my chin controlling my movements, and I heard Roe say quietly, “Holy shit.”
“Four quarters, mate,” Ez said.
Ry pulled back, then brought me in again for a chaste, lingering press of our lips together. It was an innocent kiss, but there was no doubt he was claiming me in front of everyone, and I loved him for that even more.
Breathless, we finally pulled apart, and Ry’s cheeks flushed a pretty pink. He rubbed his nape with his good hand and huffed out an embarrassed laugh as he drew me to his side. “So yeah, that was me coming out.”
“I didn’t see this coming at all,” Kristy gushed. “But I’m so happy. I thought you were crazy about Zali, but the three of you are always together. Maybe that was just me projecting though,” she apologized.
Ry blew out a breath, and I squeezed his waist, lending him my strength. He knew he had our support no matter what he decided. He didn’t have to say anything more—he didn’t even have to come out to her at all—if he chose not to. None of us wanted him to lose the little family he had, and although the risk of her freaking out was lower given her reaction, it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.
“Shit, this is harder than I thought it would be.” He huffed and ran his fingers through his hair, stalling for a moment longer.
“Ryder,” his mum said, capturing his attention. Her happiness had evaporated, worry in its place. “You can tell me anything, hon. What is it?”
“I’m proud of you,” Tris praised. “You don’t have to say anything more.”
Kristy nodded. “You don’t. But you can. I love you, Ry. I will always love you. You aren’t afraid of that changing, are you?”
He closed his eyes and nodded.
“Oh honey,” she soothed. “It doesn’t matter to me who you love as long as you treat each other right. Flynn has grown up to be a beautiful man. He’s kind and caring and he clearly loves you. I’m thrilled for you.”
She hugged both of us, squeezing me tight. “You never have to be afraid to tell me anything.”
That was when I knew, without any doubt, that Kristy would be there for Ry no matter what.
