She Turned Her Grief Into Wings novel Chapter 103

Rhys stiffened instantly, his chest tightening as he looked at the woman so close to him.

Shera let go of him, her head dropping forward as she mumbled, "Thanks, Rhys. Thanks for helping me beat up that jerk from the vocational school. I won't forget it."

She was drunk, her mind a little hazy as she swayed unsteadily on the curb.

He called her name, his voice incredibly soft. "Shera."

"Hmm?"

She took a step forward and looked up at him. "What's wrong?"

Her cheeks were flushed a deep pink, and her voice was soft, carrying a childish innocence that was endearingly clumsy.

The faint scent of her perfume filled his senses.

Rhys's eyes shifted slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing uncontrollably.

In the roadside bushes, insects chirped, and the air smelled of damp earth.

Under the dim glow of the streetlights, her lips looked even more inviting. He couldn't stop himself from slowly leaning in.

As her warm breath brushed against his face, his heart hammered in his chest, something wild and untamed screaming inside him.

The distance between them closed, but right before their lips touched, Rhys turned his head away.

He looked aside, forcing his breathing to steady.

The wind blew through his hair, messing it up. He took a half-step back, putting some distance between them.

It was fine. There was plenty of time.

He was confident he could wait for the day she truly accepted him.

The car pulled up slowly, and the driver opened the door.

Rhys scooped Shera up into his arms and gently placed her in the seat.

She slumped over slightly, so he guided her head to rest on his shoulder.

Worried she might feel nauseous, he cracked the window to let some fresh air in.

Through the rearview mirror, he watched their reflections leaning against each other, just like old times.

They used to sit like this in front of the big vanity mirror at home.

She had once said that even though they weren't related by blood, they were the closest two people in the world.

He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead.

For some reason, he wanted to capture this moment.

He lowered his gaze, following the arm holding his until he met Rhys's eyes.

"What are you doing, Mr. Hayes?"

It was a question with an obvious answer.

Caden's eyes were dark. "What are you doing?"

Rhys smiled, watching him with calm amusement, his tone completely matter-of-fact.

"Shera had a bit too much to drink. I'm taking her home."

Impatience flashed in Caden's eyes. "Well, she's home now. You can leave."

Rhys tilted his chin toward the house. "We're not quite there yet, are we? I can't just hand her off to a stranger."

"A stranger?"

Caden repeated the word, finding it ridiculously amusing.

"Do I need to remind you who the stranger here really is?"

He didn't plan on wasting any more breath on the man. Shaking off Rhys's grip, he reached for Shera's arm again.