For Both Are Infinite (Hearts in London Book 1)

by Stephanie Alba

  It had been over ten years since I’d brought a boy home. I went to grab the handle and said, “Prepare yourself, my mother isn’t as contained as yours.”

  He laughed, “I’m sure she’s fine.”

  “Suit yourself,” and just as I opened the door my mom came bursting out of the kitchen and hugged him, before her own daughter.

  She hugged him tightly before he could introduce himself or offer his hand, and it was so intrusive how she wrapped her arms around him and nestled her head into his neck. I began moving in the other direction to meet his gaze and mouthed sorry as I rolled my eyes, but Rhys just shook his head and scrunched his face in amusement.

  He wrapped his arms around her as well and I became overwhelmed by how long she held him. She held him as if they had known each other for years but had been apart for far too long. At first I was mortified. I regretted exposing him to her crazy, but then I realized it was exactly what Rhys needed. He closed his eyes for most of the hug, but just before separating he opened them wide and looked at me. She whispered something to him, some hushed words I couldn’t make out, and he nodded into her shoulder in acknowledgment and changed.

  Gone was his apprehension and concern over comparisons, and in that rash affectionate gesture, my mother brought Rhys back to himself. I wish I could have been the one to do it, but there was no way other than having him witness the acceptance for himself.

  When my mother finally separated from him, she grabbed his face in her hands and said, “It’s so wonderful to meet you. I promise I’m only half as crazy as she’s told you.”

  “No, that was actually a flawless greeting,” he laughed. “It’s great to meet you too. Thank you for having me.”

  Just as they were saying this, my father came downstairs and said, “Oh no, is she trying to molest you? Please forgive my wife, she thinks you’re gorgeous and believes this is acceptable behavior.”

  He then approached Rhys, shook his hand and pulled him into a hug as well. Rhys looked back at me as my father embraced him, smiling widely like I expected him to, and then I remembered, though biased, that I had the best parents in the world.

  After they asked about our flight and caught up with me, I led Rhys upstairs to give him a breather. He carried our bags up and stunned me when I closed the door to hear him sigh once he put the suitcase down. I looked over to see him smiling with watered eyes and his hand on his chest.

  “Your parents are so wonderful.”

  “I was just about to apologize for my mother, that was a little crazy. I’m surprised my dad hugged you too. Was that too much at once, are you okay? Are you going to run for the hills?”

  “Ellie,” his eyes opened wide, “Am I okay? I’m perfect. I can’t believe I was worried, it seems quite foolish now.”

  He came over to me and grabbed my hands affectionately, staring at them for a moment before bringing them to his mouth. After kissing them, he whispered, “Thank you for bringing me with you.”

  I held him, prolonging unpacking just to give him what he needed. He felt more like my carefree Rhys, like the one I’d fallen for, and after he quickly unpacked, he started making observations in my room. He looked through my bookshelf, finding my old yearbooks and graduation cap, and then moved towards the corkboard behind my door. It was covered in photos of Aaron and I, some with Anne or other friends, ones where I was much younger and my face was surrounded in baby fat. But I didn’t mind him seeing them because I knew what else was there. I pretended not to notice, hearing him mumble quietly or laugh at some of the pictures, but then I heard his hushed gasp. I knew he’d found it and looked up as he came towards me, standing on the opposite side of my bed.

  “You put our picture up, the one from the boat.”

  It wasn’t a question, but I answered him anyways, “I did.” And then I reached into my suitcase and took out prints from Paris and the selfies we had taken in bed. “I actually brought these too,” I said, handing them to him. “Do you think you could add them for me?”

  Rhys remained quiet, came around to my side and hugged me, flattening the pictures between us.

  “Happy?” I asked, and he nodded, too overwhelmed by my small deed, too pleased to see there was a place for him there despite it being his first visit. I got the sense that with his fame and hectic lifestyle, Rhys never felt that he truly belonged to anyone or anywhere. But he did with me. He had found the person that needed belonging just as much as he did and found a place within my heart.

  That Wednesday night my father and Rhys bonded over the cooking and prepping for the next day. The highlight was watching Rhys stuff his first turkey, only to gag as he stuck his hand inside and pulled out the innards. We made pies together and my parents got to know him, asking about his childhood in London and his career. It was nice, natural even, and became even better when Rhys and I retired early to my room to cuddle.

  We were casually watching You’ve Got Mail when I remembered my mom whispering to him during their hug.

  “Rhys, what did my mom whisper to you earlier?”

  It took him a moment to remember what I was referring to. “Oh, when she hugged me?”

  “Yeah,” I nodded.

  “She said ‘Thank you.’”

  “Thank you? That’s it?” I paused and Rhys hummed in agreement. “Thank you for what?”

  “She didn’t specify, she simply said thank you…I don’t know the exact significance, but based on the way she held me I think I can guess. I assume she was glad I came, but mostly grateful that I’m with you. Maybe that’s wishful thinking,” he laughed quietly, “but that’s the feeling I got from her embrace.”

  I hummed in acknowledgment as I started dozing off.

  ∞

  Thanksgiving morning I awoke to two surprises. The first one was a reply from James almost 48 hours later.

  James: Hey, I’m really sorry. There’s no excuse for how shitty I was, but I’m in a better place now. You deserve for me to be a better friend, and you deserve to be happy. I’m glad he’s making you happy…I ran into your mom at the store and she gave me a mouthful about it. I’d like to see you while you’re here, if you guys don’t mind. Let me know.

  The message seemed genuine enough, but I couldn’t focus on answering him when a sudden sugary smell hit my room, triggering childhood memories. I bolted to the kitchen with my hands in the air. “Please tell me I am indeed smelling them!” I said as I turned the corner.

  I heard my dad’s laughter before I saw him, and met his eyes as he said, “What did I tell you, Rhys? It’s the only thing that gets her out of bed!”

  I was taken aback by the sight in front of me; Rhys was the one making waffles in our rickety old waffle machine, and my dad was sitting at the table coaching him. My father winked at me and said, “Figured I’d teach him so he can make them across the pond.”

  My eyes inadvertently watered and all I could manage to do was smile and nod. I joined my parents at the table and continued watching them interact with him, and I could actually feel my heart swelling. The smell of the waffles wafting in the air, and the sight of him in my kitchen left me infinitely grateful for my second chance, one I never expected no less.

  I helped make eggs so we could all rush to sit before the television and watch the parade. It had been our tradition every year I had lived in the house. Even when I lived with Aaron, he and I still had waffles during the parade before heading to my parents’ house. I missed him that day, like I did every day, but there was something endearing and perfect about reliving my childhood with Rhys. Celebrating and keeping our traditions made it as though he had always been in our home, caring for me, and sharing my life. It made the relationship feel less new, but in the best way, building upon a comfort that felt years old.

  For the first time since we’d started dating, I didn’t just see Rhys as my boyfriend and eye candy; I saw him become my family, my best friend, a companion, and a third of my soul. He had completely integrated into my life.

  We
sat on the floor like two grown kids, our bodies completely touching as we watched. My parents joined us for some time, but then left to give us space and I appreciated that. Rhys had never seen the parade and imagined kids around the country waking up to see it, especially the Santa at the finale.

  “I would have loved this as a child. Too bad I grew up in a different country.”

  “I’m glad you did, I may not have met you. Plus,” I looked over cheekily. “Your accent is half the reason I’m with you.”

  “Half. Really?” he nudged me playfully.

  “I guess you’ll never know,” I winked, and he wrapped his arm around my back while we continued watching.

  I was surrounded in complete contentment. That was a moment where I didn’t feel sadness, or partially empty, and definitely not alone. Rhys had given me those sentiments often and they were priceless. They were times where I felt normal again and it was why he meant the world to me.

  We spent the rest of the day in typical Reed Thanksgiving tradition, relaxing lazily in pajamas as the scent of turkey roasting filled the house. We napped in the early afternoon, and went for a short walk around my neighborhood, eventually returning to shower and get ready for dinner.

  Rhys let me shower first since I needed more time to get ready. I chose a burnt orange sweater dress and tights, and by the time he came out I was almost ready to go. He came into the room fully dressed, refusing to wear just a towel in my parents’ house, and said, “Oh, good choice,” when he looked at me through my bedroom mirror.

  He walked up behind me with a desirous look and pulled me towards him. Continuing to admire me, his fingers gently touched my hair and placed a stray back in its place before he turned me around to face him. His lips met mine in both the shortest and sexiest kiss. He barely pressed his lips on mine, but they were open and wet, and it left me completely breathless. With his mouth still lingering over mine he said, “I realize I haven’t wished you a happy Thanksgiving yet. Is it a happy one?”

  I nodded, too jittery in his arms to speak. “Ellie, ask me what I’m most thankful for…”

  His request only made my nerves stronger, but I took a deep breath and asked. “I know it’s the waffles…but, what are you most thankful for, Rhys?”

  “Hmm,” he laughed softly. “I’m sure you think it’s you…and you’d be right, but I’m thankful specifically for your heart. I’m grateful to call it mine, and obviously the waffles.” And after another kiss, he whispered, “Happy Thanksgiving, darling.”

  ∞

  If I thought breakfast was perfect, dinner was even better. We started off with another tradition by breaking the wishbone. My parents let me and Rhys fight for it and annoyingly he won. When he saw that he’d broken the bigger piece, he smiled mischievously like a little boy and held it up to flaunt it for my parents. He even shouted, “I win!” and I admit it was adorable. What was odd though was when I told him to make a wish. He gave my mother a strange lingering look before he closed his eyes to do so. I asked him what he had wished for, but he said, “Wishes that are known don’t come true.” I would try to get it out of him later.

  Anne showed up ten minutes later and introduced herself to Rhys as only she could. She walked right up to him, not star-struck at all, and said, “I hope you know, I’m the reason you got the girl,” she hitched her thumb at me. “She doesn’t do anything without my approval, and I convinced her. So, you’re welcome.”

  My mouth opened to tell her to shut up, but I was so embarrassed all I could do was cover my face. Rhys handled it much better and replied perfectly. “Then I guess you’re who I’m most grateful for this year. It’s nice to meet you, Anne.”

  He reached in to hug her and as he did, she said, “Good answer,” and then she faced me and said, “All right, I like him. You can keep him.”

  Max and Julie arrived just before we began to eat, and introducing them to Rhys was bittersweet. He handled it really well, hugging them for a long time as he had with my parents. I suppose part of him was paying respects to the son they could no longer celebrate with. In an odd way, they gained a pseudo son in Rhys because there hadn’t been a younger man around for the holiday since Aaron passed. I wasn’t home the year before, and they weren’t in town either, but that first year they had missed the void their son left behind.

  Rhys would never replace Aaron, not in their eyes or mine, but I could see Max particularly enjoyed having him around to discuss common interests. I didn’t tell Rhys ahead of time that Max was a James Bond freak, but they got into the topic early on during dinner and talked about it for what felt like forever. Max even said he could see Rhys as the next Bond and Rhys took that as the highest compliment. Julie seemed equally smitten, because while Max, my father and Rhys were discussing tennis she leaned in and whispered something to me.

  “You know, the missing part never goes away, but Aaron would be so glad to see you happy and fulfilled. Don’t ever feel guilty. He’s still here thanks to that wonderful man you’ve found. You’re mom told me that he constantly talks to you about Aaron and asks you questions.” I nodded. “That’s all I could ever hope for, Ellie…your happiness and my son’s memory to continue on.”

  I teared up because Julie was like my second mother and always would be. To hear her vocally approve of Rhys and acknowledge just how special he was, was the best gift. I admired the scene around me - my friend and family becoming close to the person that had brought me back to life, and I couldn’t have been more grateful.

  Anne brought me out of my moment when she asked, “Rhys, I know you’re British, which means you all know each other… what do I have to do to get Henry Cavill’s number?”

  He had been eating his second helping of pumpkin pie and almost choked with a chuckle at her brashness. Clearing his throat he replied, “I’m actually not close with him. He’s rather private and has been in America filming Superman for a while, so I’m afraid I can’t help you meet your future husband just yet. I can, however, set you up with Ian McKellan. I know he’s gay and a bit older, but he’s a fantastic man and friend.”

  We all laughed at their conversation, but Anne took it a step further. “You know Rhys,” she said, pointing her index finger in the air. “I do like him as Magneto, although not as much as I like Fassbender.”

  They continued like that for fifteen minutes about how he could maybe get her in touch with Michael Fassbender, but couldn’t promise anything since he wasn’t familiar with him either.

  “Well here I thought I was getting the in I’d been hoping for my whole life, and Rhys, you’re just letting me down! It’s a good thing you make my friend smile like a blubbering fool.”

  Rhys looked over at me and mimicked my smile, except he wasn’t mimicking me at all. He was genuinely smiling as if he’d never been happier.

  ∞

  Once everyone left after 10:00 p.m., Rhys and I sleepily escaped to my bedroom. We both changed into looser clothes as quickly as possible, and got under the covers together.

  “That was such a lovely dinner, the food was beyond amazing. I can see why you became a runner, you’d have to in this house.” He rubbed his stomach and then added, “It was nice meeting everyone, especially Max and Julie. They were so kind.”

  “They’re great people. I’m blessed to call them family.”

  “Definitely, thank you again. I know I keep saying it, but I loved coming home with you. Not just for the holiday, but to be here with you.”

  “You know how you could repay me?”

  “With kisses?” he smirked.

  “No, well yes, but I mean another way…”

  “Hmm?” Rhys mumbled with a tight smile. I noticed concern in his eyes, some sort of worry as to where the conversation was heading. For a moment I thought he believed I meant something more intimate, and he was curious to see what I was implying. My hands grew damp as I stared at him, wondering how to continue without disappointing him. He had to be dying for it, and sometimes I wished I could be physical alr
eady. I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for, but I hadn’t gotten it yet.

  “You could tell me what you wished for!” I said, tickling his stomach as he tried to escape. I loved tickling him. It gave me an excuse to touch him and the unfiltered laughter that escaped his throat was heaven. But I regretted it within seconds when he pinned me down against the bed with him atop me. If we were naked, it would look like we were having sex. I didn’t regret how close his body was to mine, how great it felt to be that way with someone, and how wonderful he smelled. Sometimes I wondered if I loved the smell, or if I loved it because it was his smell. He got really close to my face, our noses touching and said, “Do you want my wish to come true?”

  I shrugged as much as his tight grip would allow me. “It’s hard to say when I don’t know what it is.”

  “Well,” he looked up and down my face, leaning further back. “I think you’d want my wish to come true, so I can’t tell you just yet.”

  “Yet?” I lifted my brows.

  “Yes, not yet. But maybe someday.”

  “Fine,” I accepted and he kissed my nose and thanked me.

  He was still above me, still holding me, but his grip had softened a bit and he was rubbing my hip affectionately. As he looked down at me, I saw intent longing in his eyes. Despite the darkness in the room, they were bright and exposed his thoughts, causing my breathing to speed up. He had been staring at me, hypnotizing me with his blue eyes when slowly and seductively his gaze drew downward to my mouth. Rhys kissed me. I think more than anything he didn’t want me to watch him test the waters, because he started slowly slipping his hand under my shirt and grabbed my waist beneath it. The feel of his fingers on my skin, even just my stomach, caused me to intake a breath and he pulled away with a wrinkle furrowed between his brows.

  “Is this okay?” he asked, squeezing the skin beneath my hand.