After their visit with Marjorie, Rhys and Heather made a detour to Lux's shared residence before finally heading back to the condominium.
Once inside, they headed upstairs to Rhys's personal bedroom. The room, reflecting his minimalist taste, held a carefully curated wardrobe.
Heather efficiently took charge of packing for the upcoming tour, pulling out various outfits from the closet and drawers, laying them neatly on the spacious bed.
She selected a mix of comfortable casual wear, performance attire designed for ease of movement under stage lights, and a few more formal options for potential promotional appearances.
Rhys offered his input occasionally, confirming her choices or suggesting alternatives.
They worked together, their movements familiar and synchronized, folding the clothes carefully into his black suitcases.
Once the zippers were secured, they each took a suitcase, and Rhys grabbed a smaller duffel bag containing his toiletries and other essentials.
Together, they carried the luggage downstairs to the living room, placing them neatly by the entrance, a silent marker of his impending departure the following morning.
Just as he straightened up, Henry sauntered into the living room, a playful smirk on his face.
"Leaving already, Rhys?" he teased, his eyes catching sight of the neatly stacked luggage.
"Just getting organized for the tour," Rhys replied, a hint of a smile in his own voice. "These are the essentials."
Moments later, Jess and Emmett joined them, their usual energetic presence filling the room.
"So, what happened with Mr. Evans?" Jess asked, his gaze sharp with curiosity. "Were you able to get in touch?"
"Yeah, everything's signed," Rhys confirmed, a sense of quiet satisfaction in his tone.
He placed a possessive hand on Heather's lower back, gently guiding her towards the plush, grey sofa.
Heather settled onto the cushions, leaning back comfortably as Rhys sat beside her, their thighs brushing.
Jess, Henry, and Emmett arranged themselves on the remaining section of the sectional couch, their eyes fixed on Rhys.
"Signed it already? That was lightning fast, even for you," Jess exclaimed, genuinely surprised by Rhys's swift action.
"Figured there was no point in waiting," Rhys said with a shrug. "We'll move in after the tour, once Mr. Evans delivers the keys and the security upgrades are complete."
"We?" Emmett echoed, tilting his head, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
"Me and Heather," Rhys clarified, glancing at Heather with a soft smile.
A collective gasp of surprise filled the room. "What?!" the three exclaimed in unison, their eyes wide with shock and a hint of excitement.
"Have you even told the manager about this yet?" Henry asked, his tone a mix of concern and amusement.
"Not yet," Rhys admitted. "But I will. Soon."
Jess grinned, clapping Rhys on the shoulder. "Well, congrats then, man. On the new place, and for taking such a big step with Heather."
"Thanks," Heather and Rhys said together, their voices warm.
"Does this mean a massive housewarming party?" Emmett piped up, his eyes already sparkling with the prospect of a celebration.
Heather glanced at Rhys, a playful glint in her eyes. "Definitely," she said. "Once we're settled and the place is somewhat presentable, we'll send out invitations."
Emmett threw his hands up in the air, a wide grin plastered across his face. "Party! Party! Party!" he chanted, bouncing slightly on the couch.
The others exchanged amused glances, a comfortable camaraderie filling the room.
Later that evening, back in their own condominium, a peaceful quiet settled over Rhys and Heather as they lounged on their familiar living room couch.
Rhys's arm was a comforting weight around Heather's shoulders, and her head rested snugly against his chest, the rhythmic beat of his heart a soothing presence.
An action movie flickered across the large screen, but their attention drifted in and out, more focused on the comfortable silence between them.
Heather reached into the bowl of freshly popped popcorn on the coffee table, offering a piece to Rhys before popping one into her own mouth.
"Around how long do you think this tour will actually last?" she asked, her voice soft against his shirt.
Rhys thought for a moment, mentally reviewing their scheduled stops and promotional obligations.
"It shouldn't stretch beyond three months, maybe a little less," he replied, his fingers gently stroking her hair. "But we'll still be flying back here periodically. Music Vault has us booked for regular performances."
"I wish I could tag along," Heather admitted, a wistful smile touching her lips. "I'd absolutely love to see you guys perform live, experience the energy of your concerts firsthand."
"We're actually in the early stages of planning a larger concert event," Rhys revealed. "Once the details are finalized, you'll be front and center."
"Okay," Heather murmured, content with the promise. They settled back into comfortable silence, the sounds of explosions and gunfire from the movie a low hum in the background, until sleep gradually claimed them.
Rhys stirred awake with a jolt as his phone's insistent alarm blared at precisely 1:00 AM. He realized they had both fallen asleep on the couch, Heather nestled on his inner side.
Her head rested on his left arm, and a pins-and-needles sensation confirmed it had long since gone numb.
Carefully, he supported Heather's head with his free hand, inching his trapped arm out from under her. He waited for the tingling to subside, flexing his fingers to restore circulation, before quietly reaching for his phone to send a quick "Just woke up" message to Jess.
A trip to the bathroom followed, a splash of cold water on his face and a quick brush of his teeth helping to shake off the remaining sleepiness.
He stood for a moment, a silent debate playing out in his mind. Should he simply drape a blanket over Heather and let her continue sleeping soundly on the couch, or gently carry her to the more comfortable confines of their bed?
Deciding on the latter, he carefully scooped her up in his arms, her light weight surprisingly easy to manage.
Heather stirred as he walked to the bedroom, her eyelids fluttering open sleepily.
"You could've just woken me up," she mumbled, her voice still thick with sleep, as he gently laid her down on the soft mattress in her bedroom. "You didn't have to carry me all the way here."
"I didn't want to disturb your sleep," Rhys said softly, pulling the duvet over her.
"Are you leaving now?" she asked, her eyes now fully open, a hint of sleepiness still lingering in their depths.
"Yes, I just messaged Jess. I'm heading over now."
"Okay," Heather murmured, her hand reaching out to briefly touch his. "Text me when you get there safely."
"Definitely," he promised, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to her lips. He held her gaze for a moment longer before straightening up.
"I'll keep you updated." With a final, soft smile, he turned and quietly left the bedroom.
The quiet click of the bedroom door closing behind him seemed to punctuate his departure.
Rhys moved swiftly and silently through the condominium, a well-worn path leading him to the front door and grabbed his keys.
He got into his waiting SUV, a quick check of his phone confirming Jess's message: Be there in 10. Emmett's still half-asleep.
He drove the familiar route towards the house they shared with the other members of Lux, the pre-dawn light painting the city in soft hues of grey and pink.
He thought of Heather, still asleep upstairs, and a wave of tenderness washed over him, a bittersweet mix of anticipation for the tour and a pang of longing for the warmth he was leaving behind.
He knew three months would pass quickly, filled with the energy of performances and the demands of their schedule, but the thought of coming back to Heather, to their new home just outside the city, fueled him.
He pulled up to the familiar house, the other members of Lux already waiting by the curb, their own luggage piled beside them.
Jess yawned widely, while Emmett and Dave were still rubbing the sleep from their eyes. Henry, ever the early bird, was already stowing bags in the back of their tour van.
"Morning, sleepyheads," Rhys greeted them, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Morning," they mumbled in unison, the weariness of the early hour evident in their voices.
────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────
Heather woke up to the soft glow of morning filtering through her bedroom window. She stretched languidly, her limbs still feeling pleasantly relaxed.
The empty space beside her in bed was a tangible reminder of Rhys's early departure.
She reached for her phone on the nightstand, a message from him already waiting: Just left. See you soon. ❤️
A soft smile touched her lips as she replied with a simple Take care! Miss you already. ❤️
After getting out of bed and going through her morning routine, Heather headed to the kitchen. The condo felt a little quieter than usual without Rhys's presence, but it was a familiar kind of quiet.
She made herself a light breakfast and then got ready for her shift at Black Star Cafe, where she worked part-time.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries greeted her as she walked through the cafe door.
Her aunt, Marjorie, the owner, was already bustling behind the counter, a cheerful "Good morning, dear!" echoing through the space.
"Morning, Auntie," Heather replied, placing her bag behind the counter.
She tied on her apron and quickly got to work, helping Marjorie prepare for the morning rush.
The cafe slowly filled with regulars – students grabbing a quick coffee before class, office workers stopping by for their morning caffeine fix, and a few locals settling in with newspapers and muffins.
Throughout her shift, Heather's mind occasionally drifted back to Rhys and their new house. The excitement of their purchase and the anticipation of moving in together after his tour bubbled beneath the surface of her everyday tasks.
She couldn't wait to start planning the décor, making the house truly feel like their home.