In Rosa’s New Game, Rhys is introduced as “the one who got away,” or more accurately, the one who ghosted our heroine, Rosa, after a perfect first date. It’s a classic romantic setup for a guy we’re supposed to dislike, right? But Rhys’s story is so much more than that. His journey is one of romantic redemption, of a good man who made a bad decision under pressure and has to fight his way back, earning not only Rosa’s trust but his own self-respect. Oh, second chances. They are so satisfying to write.
The Ghost of Dates Past
At first, Rhys seems like the classic heartbreaker, disappearing after a magical date and leaving Rosa to question everything. We see their first date from Rosa’s memory — the easy conversation, the shared laughter, the undeniable spark, and a kiss that left her breathless. Then… radio silence. It’s the kind of behavior that immediately puts a hero on the naughty list.
But what I love to explore is the “why.” Why do people run? It’s rarely because they’re just jerks. For Rhys, it was a perfect storm of pressure and fear. As we learn in a bonus scene, he was being emotionally manipulated by a toxic ex, Chloe, who showed up at his door right after his date with Rosa. On top of that, he was confronted by Rosa’s fiercely protective sister, Demi, who warned him away. He tells Demi, “Look, it’s… complicated.” And it really was!
He panicked, thinking that backing away was the only way to avoid hurting Rosa. It was a cowardly choice, yes, but a very human one. Writing flawed characters who make big mistakes is so much more compelling than writing perfect heroes from the start.
Facing the Music
When Rhys and Rosa reconnect a year later, he doesn’t run from his past mistake but chooses to confront it, explaining the complicated situation that led to his disappearance. This is the first major step on his path to redemption. He could have ignored Rosa in his yoga class, pretended he didn’t remember her, or made a flimsy excuse. Instead, when she confronts him, he owns it.
He doesn’t try to sugarcoat his actions. He admits his weakness, explaining, “Chloe was a mess, showing up, crying, threatening… And then Demi comes at me like some kind of avenging angel? It freaked me out. I panicked. I thought maybe… maybe Demi was right. Maybe I would hurt you.”
His honesty is what cracks the door open for a second chance. He’s not the same guy who ran. He’s a man who has reflected on his past, understands his failure, and is willing to be vulnerable to fix it. This is the moment trust can begin to rebuild, and it’s a crucial scene for any redemption arc.
Choosing to Stay
Rhys’s real test comes when Rosa’s life implodes, and he’s faced with the choice to either run from the chaos again or prove he’s a changed man. After they sleep together, Rosa gets the email that she’s been laid off. In her panic and hurt, she lashes out at Rhys, accusing him of being another false hope and throwing his past ghosting in his face. The old Rhys would have retreated. In fact, he even has an easy way out — an offer to sell his yoga studio and leave town.
This is my favorite part of his journey. We get to see his internal struggle. He could take the money and run, escaping the complicated woman and her complicated life. But he chooses differently this time. He recognizes her pain and fear, and instead of taking it personally, he understands its source. He thinks, “Running away now wouldn’t just be cowardly; it would be validating her worst fears about me… This time, I stay.”
This is the core of his redemption. It’s not a grand, public gesture. It’s a quiet, internal decision to be steady, to be present, to be the man he wasn’t a year ago. He proves his change not just with words but with action — or, in this case, the powerful action of not running away. He shows up at her chaotic family home, endures her father’s interrogations, and ultimately makes a career choice that anchors him firmly in Yamato, and in her life.
Rhys earns his second chance. He isn't perfect, and that’s what makes his journey so compelling. He starts as a man who avoids complications and ends as one who stands firm in the face of them, offering the steady support Rosa needs as she navigates her own new game. He learns that real connection isn’t about finding an easy path, but about choosing to walk a difficult one together.
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I really liked how you wrote their second chance romance and how clear it is that Rhys changed. And also how it made sense why he did ghost her that first time and how he wans’t perfect. I do like how his decision to stay this time is that quiet determination and how he really is there for Rosa. Really enjoyed this story!