Cupcake

Luckily, right then Ms. Weaver announced our next assignment. Her voice broke me out of my Rhys-induced daze before I could do something silly like swoon.

“Okay, kids,” she said. “Now that we all know a little about each other, it’s time for our next fun activity! This one requires your phones.”

“Sweet. If it’s a photo contest”—Zander shot Lana a wink—“we are definitely winning this one.”

“For once, I agree,” she said.

Ms. Weaver’s smile grew. “Sorry to disappoint, but it’s actually not a photo challenge.”

Lana and the others looked deflated at that, but I only felt relief. Pictures were so not my thing. And after seeing his almost smile, I didn’t relish the idea of taking one next to Rhys. He was too pretty for words.

“Though I do plan on taking pictures of each couple at some point for the school’s website,” she added, and I winced. “But today, like I said, is about bonding and trust. Please unlock your phones.”

I pulled mine out and waited.

“Now, hand it over to your partner.”

Protests went up all around. Geez, I thought, they’re just phones. It’s not like she suggested we do something ridiculous like strip naked.

Ms. Weaver silenced everyone with a raised hand.

“Come on, guys!” She glanced over the group. “It’s not that serious. You’ll have exactly five minutes to look around. Notice I only said look. You will not text, email, message, or delete anything. This is simply meant to give you insight into the prince or princess the Honeycomb chalices paired you with.”

Bryleigh raised her hand. “And if we refuse?”

Daniel, who was her partner, frowned. “Why would you?” he said. “It’s just five minutes.”

“I know,” she said, “but a phone is super personal. It’s kind of like a diary. I don’t know how I feel about someone digging through my stuff.”

“Yeah, Ms. Weaver,” Tessandra added. “No offense, but I think this is a clear invasion of privacy.”

Zander’s cheeks were red. “I don’t want anybody looking at my phone. You’re with me on that, right, Rhys?”

Rhys shrugged. “I’m cool with it.”

He was? My eyes moved to the guy standing at my side. After how reluctant he’d been to reveal how he got his name, I would’ve thought he’d be a firm no on the phone issue.

“I didn’t think it would be a big deal,” Ms. Weaver muttered to herself. “How about this,” she said after a moment, “if you want to do the phone exchange, do it. If not, check out the other person’s social media account instead. Will that work?”

The majority of the court seemed to sigh in relief.

Ms. Weaver nodded. “Awesome! Talk it over with your partner, choose your option, and let’s get to know each other! I’m setting my watch to five minutes now.”

Rhys was the first to speak this time.

“What do you want to do?” he said.

I shrugged. “I don’t really have social media—unless you include my baking vlog. So, I guess the phone exchange?”

“Sounds good,” he said and gave me his phone.

For some reason, I was suddenly too shy to do the same. Deep breath, Ariel. I had nothing to hide, right?

I placed my phone in his palm, and Rhys started looking through the thing immediately. I was eager to look at his phone, too. But the way he was so focused, how his intense eyes roved over the contents of my device, held my attention. I knew what I had in there: wallpaper of me and my mom at Disney with us wearing the ears (classic Minnie Mouse for her and cupcake-inspired for me), way too many pictures of baked goods, some class notes, and other things. I didn’t think there was anything incriminating. But what did he see?

“This is making me hungry, Cupcake,” he finally said, and I grinned.

“Yeah, good food pics will do that,” I said.

“I’m serious. My stomach just growled.”

With only a couple minutes left, my eyes went to his phone. I wouldn’t lie to myself—I was curious. Who was Rhys Castle really? Would his phone reveal any secrets? His wallpaper was a picture of him and three other guys from the team facing the back in their football jerseys. Yeah, it was kind of cliché, but still, I couldn’t help but appreciate his broad shoulders.

Shaking myself out of it, I kept searching. There were a handful of apps. The camera roll had several pictures of his family and a surprising number of his dog. Ah, what a cutie, I thought. And then…

“Oh my gosh,” I breathed.

A Rhys selfie. Shirtless. With muscles upon muscles on display.

Holy wow, Batman.

I knew I should look away but couldn’t. Worse, the shirtless pics had me blushing all the way to the tips of my ears.

“Something wrong?” Rhys asked.

My eyes shot to his as I tried desperately to close the app. “Nope. It’s all good.”

He lifted his chin. “You sure? Do you like that picture or something? You’ve been staring at it for a while.”

“Wha—oh my gosh,” I said again as my cheeks flared. Unfortunately, instead of closing, I’d somehow managed to zoom in, and now Rhys’s incredible torso and abs were the only things visible. “I wasn’t—I mean—”

Rhys chuckled. “It’s okay, Cupcake. I was joking.”

I wanted to die.

“Had to take those and send them to some college coaches along with my health stats. They like to know we’re in shape.”

“Well, that you definitely are,” I mumbled.

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing, nothing.” I waved him off. “I just thought it might be something you did. Take shirtless pics of yourself to send to a girlfriend, post online, or hang on your wall at home.”

His brows drew together. “Do I look like a total asshole to you?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. You’re just…really fit.” I bit my lip.

Rhys lifted a brow. “Thanks.”

In a bid to leave the awkward behind and change the subject, I said, “You know, I just realized. Rhys and Azriel are characters from this epic fantasy series I love. Isn’t that hilarious? Our names are almost identical. Az and Rhys are both male, though.”

“You mean SJM?” he said.

My eyes shot to his. “Seriously? You’ve read A Court of Thorns and Roses?”

Rhys shrugged. “Sarah J. Maas is a goddess. I’ve read all the books. Rhysand is my favorite, although Azriel and his shadows are a close second.”

Shut the front door. Tight-lipped, frowny-face, super-jock Rhys had actually read one of my favorite series of all time—and liked it?

Was this some kind of alternate universe?

“What’s your favorite part in the books?” I asked just to test him.

“Love all the battle scenes,” he said, “especially the one in Velaris where everyone and their mother gets in on the action. Yours?”

“Oh my gosh, there are so many! The romance is my favorite part, of course. Feyre and Rhys for life. But another fave has to be at the end of Mist & Fury with the cauldron, where Nesta points at the King of Hybern before she gets forced under.”

“Oh yeah, that was epic.”

“Totally epic,” I breathed. “I kind of hated Nesta at first, and then I loved her. And I don’t know why, but I love how SJM can toy with my emotions like that.”

Rhys nodded. “I hear you.”

“Maybe we should do a buddy-read sometime.”

“No thanks. I like to read alone.”

Message received, I thought.

Just like that, our little bonding moment was officially over. But the fact that it happened at all… My head was spinning.

Lowering my gaze and hiding from the confusion addling my mind, I opened his music app. It was filled with songs, some current, some old. There were quite a few rap songs but surprisingly mixed in with those were a few I liked as well.

“Wouldn’t have taken you as someone who listens to Fleetwood Mac,” I commented.

“Wouldn’t have taken you as someone who likes looking at half-naked pics of me,” he said, causing my blush to deepen. “But I guess you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Huffing, I rolled my eyes as Ms. Weaver called time, pushing his phone back at him.

“Do you enjoy embarrassing me?” I asked.

Rhys pretended to think about it as he handed back my phone. “Honestly? I don’t hate it,” he said with a smirk.

Jerk.