Page 29 of Unravel Me

Maybe this was a bad idea, maybe I wasn’t emotionally ready to go out to dinner with a new friend.

“Everything is fine, seriously. It’s not you, I just...” I dial down the volume down of my voice, but it proves too late. Dale’s head snaps up at the sound and we catch each other’s gaze.

Luckily, Rhett doesn’t follow my gaze as he leans back in his chair.

“I want to be with you this evening...I want this...but I don’t want to be here.” My words fade out and I feel awful, tucking my head down.

I purposefully avoid looking over his shoulder again, keeping my attention on the man at the table with me.

The only one who deserves my attention.

To my surprise, Rhett doesn’t look disappointed or anything remotely close. His shoulders relax and he places his napkin next to his untouched entree.

I let out my breath. I was waiting for him to snap at me, to say something to make me feel small or ungrateful, like Jackson would’ve said. But he’s not him.

“You want to get out of here?” A twinkle sets in his blue eyes.

I toss my napkin on the table, too, even though I'm ravenously hungry, and nod my head.

“Yes…would that be okay?”

Before he answers me, Rhett motions for the waitress.

“Could we have some boxes to-go, ma’am? I’m not feeling too well.” He puts the charm on and the waitress takes our food away to pack it up.

“I have an idea. It’s maybe a bit random, but it doesn’t involve other people at all...” He scrubs his jaw with his hand, his knee bouncing up and down. I have to admit, he’s kind of enchanting.

“I’m intrigued,” I offer, and he chuckles. Honestly, I’d go anywhere to get out of this suffocating restaurant.

Rhett paid the bill quickly, and went to get his truck, telling me he’d be back in a moment to pick me up. I insisted I could walk, but he was even more insistent on being a gentleman.

As I rise and smooth my skirt, deliberately turning away from Dale, a spark of excitement flutters through me. I don’t know what the night holds, but anything is better than going back to an empty apartment. With anticipation bubbling in my chest, I stride toward the door—only to feel the thrill evaporate, replaced by a sinking dread, when Dale calls out my name.

I close my eyes and spin slowly on my heel, plastering a fake smile on my lips.

“See babe, I told you it was her.” His girlfriend turns in her chair, looking up at me with a smug smirk.

“What a coincidence!” I offer politely, gripping my purse tightly at my side.

“How are you?” Dale asks, a wicked gaze in his eyes, and my mouth hangs open for longer than intended.

“I’m good, thanks.”

“I’m so sorry to hear about everything,” his perky girlfriend chimes in, not sounding apologetic at all. I’m sure my breakup to the Jackson Tippins provided all the gossip she needed for a year.

An ill-timed laugh, which is way too loud for this restaurant, escapes me as I wave my hand dismissively at them both.

“Please, don’t apologize. I’m doing good, but I do need to run, so good to see you both.”

They look stunned, as I kiss my fingertips and wave. A rumbling engine draws my attention outside, where Rhett’s white truck idles.

I push the awkward interaction from my mind as soon as I step onto the sidewalk, where a man with rough hands and a beautiful smile holds the truck door open for me.

“Darlin’.” Rhett’s hand stretches out, and my palm fits perfectly in it as he helps me into the passenger side.

We drive out of the city, away from the mess and into the unknown.

Chapter seventeen