In Between Jokes and Love Notes

Chapter 3: Unbreakable Connections

“Sorry, I overslept.”

“You needed to rest. You want me to set the table? I finished cooking a while ago.”

“Later, I just want to sit here with you.” He snuggled sat close to me and placed his head on my shoulder. “Did you finish your work?”

“Yeah, not much to be worried about. I am free for the rest of the night.” I said as I wathed the horizon start to change its color.

“Can we have that later talk now.” Rhys mumbled as he buried his face on my hair. I was certain that he was inhaled to smell my shampoo that he used even if I told him not too.

“Wouldn’t it be difficult to talk about that knowing that your career is just taking off?” I said, trying to be as calm as possible.

“You said you are not jealous and I am not planning on giving you a reason to feel that way at all cost.”

“I know but wouldn’t I be a complication?”

He straightened up and held my face. “Never say that, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”

“Stop saying that, you deserve this.”

“Yes, and I think I deserve you too.” That last sentence was a surprise.

“Haven’t you realized it yet?” Rhys was standing now, his face in disbelief and frustration.

“Realized what?”

“Come on Heather, we are not kids anymore. And you are not that dense to fail to notice it.”

I held my breath when he knelt in front of me.

“I love you, Heather.”

We were like newly weds on a honeymoon after Rhys’s confession. Although I did not exactly said the three magic words to him, I knew that I felt the same, maybe I was just not ready to say it out loud.

But my actions were different. I had him for dinner before we actually dig in to the casserole that I made. It was a bliss. I have never felt so liberated in my life. All those nights of wishful thinking and depriving myself from touching him, from being intimate with Rhys was finally over.

I was watching a movie when Rhys arrived from one of his shows. He scooted by my side and grabbed the popcorn bowl from my hand.

“How was your show?” I asked without my eyes moving away from the television. Jason and Freddy were having a battle inside the dream world and I just can’t miss this part even though I have already seen it a thousand times.

“It was great, but tiring.” He sighed. “That again?”

“You know I always find comfort in rewatching my favorite movies right?”

“But you already know what happens next.”

“That’s basically the reason why I do this. I do not have to be anxious on what happens next. I get to pay attention to the details I missed when I first saw it.”

“And you still find new things after rewatching it, like how many times have you seen this movie, 285?” He winked, putting his arm around my shoulder and pulling me close to him.

“Just let me be.” I snorted a bit.

He chuckled and then went silent. I looked at the side of his face and saw him fixated on the television as well.

“You look tired. Have you had your dinner?” I was concerned. He was dear to be. We grew up basically together.

“A bit but fulfilled.” He looked at me and smiled. “The venue was full. This was my first time seeing that much people watching me.”

“How did it felt?” I was genuinely curious.

“Exciting, but a bit scary. But I feel accepted. People were actually listening, they were engaged. And they we not laughing at my jokes, they were laughing with me. Did I describe it right? But that was how I felt.”

“I get it. Remind me to attend on your next show. But promise not to make me a part of the show ok? I’ll just take videos that we can use for marketing your brand.”

“I really like how you perceive my work as my brand.” He was shaking his head as if it was a laughing matter.

“You’ll make it big. With that talent and that looks, I can’t actually believed that you are still under the radar. I guess your time just hasn’t come yet.”

“My looks?” He smirked.

“Yeah, your looks. Come one, have you seen yourself in the mirror lately?” I was not lying. He practically looks like a Greek God with that jawline and those abs. He was just not aware of it.

“Yeah but comedians are technically not physically engaging, if you know what I mean.”

“Well, then you are bound to change that. Believe me, it is bound to happen anytime soon.” I assured him before I focused back on the television screen.

“It has been 5 long years, do you really think I can make it?” I had to look back at him, he was definitely doubting himself again.

I wanted to hold him close during that moment. Make him feel that whatever happens, he would have a place here, he could work for me, or he could continue pursuing his dreams and I would just be here supporting him all the way.

Then there was his lips, pinkish, almost red, plump and inviting me to come close to kiss him.

I have wanted to do that for so long. A few months after Rhys moved in to my vacant room, I already knew that I have feelings for him.

But he was like a brother to me when we were growing up. And with him broken but still willing to pursue his dreams, how could I open up with my feelings with the fear of him potentially moving away. I could not afford to disclose my feelings knowing that he had nowhere to go but here with me.

I did not notice that he was looking at my lips too.

I shrieked when the thunder rubles outside and the electricity when off. I was quick to grab my phone to turn the flashlight on.

“Still a scaredy cat.” He teased.

“Whatever.” I raised my eyebrow at him but scooted close as the rain started to pour outside.

“Can we stay here, I am too tired to get up to go to bed.” He said, pulling me close.

“If you insist.” I answered and made myself comfortable in his arms.

The memory was two years ago and I have a lot of memories like that, of me wanting to kiss him so badly and make him feel what I really felt inside.

But somehow, it all fell into place. Here I am watching him sleep as I hear the crickets outside Forest Park in this massive RV.

‘Hey, still awake?” His eyes fluttered

“Yeah, I can hear the crickets outside. Go back to sleep, I’ll be able to sleep later.”

He got up and sat on the bed. “I can stay up with you.”

“But you need to drive early so we can hike at Powell Butte Nature Park” I was also sitting in the bed, facing him.

“Same as you. But we can skip the park and stay in bed if you want to.” He was teasing obviously.

“Nah, lets go hiking tomorrow, you’ll be too busy in the next few days so we might as well enjoy while we still can.”

“Speaking of enjoying,” He moved closer to me and touched my bear shoulder. “We can still enjoy while the night is young, if you know what I mean.” His lips was already close to mine by the time he completed his sentence.

I got up and hurried to the RV door and went outside, giggling. Rhys was quick to follow, laughing a bit, surprised with my reaction.

“Playing hard to get?” He said when he emerged out of the RV. I was already standing close to the bonfire he created earlier.

“I could stay here you know.” I was feeling nostalgic. My parents loves to bring me camping when I was younger. It has been over a decade since I lost them and this is my first time camping again.

“Yeah. Remember when I used to hitchhike with you and your parents whenever you go out on trips like this. Your parents were really kind enough to me as a kid. You guys gave me special moments like this to remember.” He said as he stood beside me, we were both looking at the bonfire that was about to die out.

“We love those marshmallow nights right? If it was not for you my childhood would have been so boring. You were like a brother I never had.”

“Oh, don’t say that, so what we did was incest?”

“Of course not, things eventually changed. I started seeing you as a man and not as my brother a few months after you moved in.” I was being honest.

“Well, I never saw you as a sister so it was definitely not incest for me. But for you, well, I thought I was the naught one.” He laughed when I pinched him on the side.

He tilted his head upwards and laughed, his perfect teeth showing, his hand above where his heart was as if it was going to escape if he continue laughing.

I held his face and tiptoed to give him a kiss.

“What was that for?” He asked when I let him go.

“You know I love you right?”

He did not gave me answer and pulled me to kiss me instead.