Page 42 of Unravel Me

“We met in California. He came out to see a Giants baseball game with a few of his buddies. I was a cocktail waitress at one of the bars near the stadium. He wandered in, bright eyed and bushy tailed. A tall, lanky North Carolina boy fresh out of college who kept calling me ma’am. He asked if he could take me out for dinner the next day, and well, the rest is history.”

“You don’t hear many love stories as classic as that anymore,” I add, meaning it. “And Rhett didn’t mention you weren’t from here.”

Renee waves her hand. “Oh honey, I’m a California girl. I thought my father was going to kill Nick when he convinced me to move to the East Coast to take over his family’s farm. But the truth is, I would’ve gone anywhere for him. He was my best friend.”

It grows quiet and Rhett shifts again behind her, pain crossing his features before it disappears, his eyes finding mine. “Audrey, don’t get her started on stories or you won’t be home until Monday morning.”

“Okay, okay, I’m done! I’m out of here!” Renee laughs, hugging her son goodbye, and waves at me as she makes her way back to her car.

Rhett and I stand there, side by side on the wooden porch.

“Sorry about that.” He closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Don’t apologize, your mom is so sweet.” I meant it, even if this threw me off. I don’t think I ever left a conversation with Jackson’s mother Vivianne without feeling like I needed a drink and an anxiety pill. But talking to Renee felt like a warm hug.

“You know how moms are.”

I laughed at Rhett’s sentiment because if my parents saw me and the way I'm derailing everything right now, I doubt Rhett would describe their response as sweet.

“Trust me, there’s not a single similarity between your mom and mine. Consider yourself lucky for that.”

“How do you mean?” Rhett’s brow furrowed, and a lump rose in my throat as I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Oh, nothing. Your mom just seems like a very warm and genuine person.” I quickly divert the conversation away from something I’m not ready to divulge right now, or maybe ever. “Anyway, thanks for accommodating me…I know it was unexpected yesterday.”

Rhett closes the gap between us, sliding his hand up my neck to my jawline, sending shivers down my spine. I wanted to lean all of myself into him and disappear back into the little cloud we exist on where it’s just us two.

“Thanks for the cookies,” he says so seriously that we both crack a smile before he kisses me.

“Anytime,” I whisper through puckered lips.

I savor the kiss, unable to shake the unexpected fear gripping me that at any moment, reality will hit me, and it could be our last.

Chapter twenty-four

Audrey

As soon as my tires hit the highway, I make a mental list. Lists make me calm, lists have orders, lists tell me what to do next in life.

I swing by the dry cleaners on the way back to the apartment, and the moment my feet enter Penny’s place, I go into full swing. Hair up, headphones in, playlist blasting, unpacking. Not thinking about Rhett.

Definitely not thinking about his mouth all over me or the way our breathing was in sync.

I managed to unpack the rest of my stuff in just under two hours, stuffing the clothes that didn’t fit into the dresser and closet under the bed in suitcases. It would have to do for now. This was all temporary, I reminded myself.

I sat on the queen bed, leaning against the moss green, velvet headboard, and took a deep breath. The room was furnished already, it was very Penny. Glamorous, jewel-toned and overly girly. It made me miss her, and even though I’d been to her place a hundred times before, and I technically live here, it still felt weird to be here alone.

Penny wouldn’t be back until tomorrow afternoon, and we’d only have half a day to catch up before work began again on Monday, so I decided to see what else I could do. Her pantry was pretty bare and so was the refrigerator. I guess that’s the life of a jet-setter, but either way, I decided the least I could do was go to the store and stock up for the upcoming week. Something told me we’d be having a lot of late-night snacks and TV chat sessions. I quickly jot down a grocery list, grab my reusable bags, and slip on my tennis shoes, deciding to walk the few blocks to the local market.

As I’m checking out, my bags full of charcuterie board essentials and champagne, of course, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

Rhett: I know I’m supposed to wait three days, or some stupid rule, but I'm not really a rules guy so I’m taking my chance. Do you have plans next weekend?

I read the text with a fluttering in my stomach. I thank the cashier, grab my bags and walk home with a phone in my face.

Audrey: A rule breaker, huh? I might have plans…it depends…

Rhett: Well, if you find yourself without them, I'd like to take you somewhere special Friday night.