Page 50 of Unravel Me

It’s scary, maybe the scariest thing I ever asked myself.

Rhett tugs on my hand, turning us down another row of games, and I let myself return to him.

“That looks like Mabel!” I call out with my arm draped around Rhett’s as we lazily meander towards a game tent. There’s a bloodhound stuffed animal prize hanging at the water gun game.

“She would lose her mind if she saw that.”

“Let me get it for her!” I take a step toward the booth, which is already filling up with teenagers and kids.

“You know these games are all rigged, baby,” Rhett teases and I scoff, sitting down on the red stool anyway.

“All games are rigged if you don’t know what you’re doing,” I snap back, slapping a few dollars on the counter. All the years of watching Jackson gamble has given me a false sense of assurance—if you’re just confident enough, usually you win.

“You played this before?” Rhett bends over, his lips near my ear, sending shivers down my sides as his husky voice fills my ears.

“Well, no, I’ve never played this one, but I was on my high school's archery team. This can’t be harder than that.”

The game bell rang, and I’d never pushed my thumbs so hard before. I didn’t flinch, didn’t take my eyes off the stream of water until the buzzer rang again, and number four lit up.

“I won! I won!” I jump up, the teenager running the game looking less than impressed. Leaping up, I wrap my legs around Rhett’s waist, as he cups my ass and kisses me.

“Take your pick from the middle row,” the game attendant mumbles unenthusiastically, and Rhett drops me to my feet. Without hesitation, I pointed at the bloodhound.

“So, the lesson is, never tell Audrey Elson she can’t do something,” Rhett whispers in my ear, one arm around my shoulder as we walk away, victorious.

“Damn straight,” I nod, clutching the cheap stuffed animal.

“Rhett Anderson!”

He stops in his tracks, and we both turn to look over our shoulders. A woman his mother’s age walks towards us, a funnel cake in one hand.

“Mrs. Little, how are you?” Rhett lets go of me, pulling the older woman into a hug. She beams up at him, a glint in her eyes, admiring him like a mother would.

“I’m doing great, my grandkids are around here somewhere. They go nuts here.” He chuckles kindly.

“Mrs. Little, this is Audrey. My girlfriend.”

Her smile changed to something more polite, as she held out her hand, shaking mine.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” I reply, noticing her glance at the stuffed animal in my arms.

“Kylan mentioned you were seeing someone.” She winks at Rhett like it’s an inside secret.

“Of course, he did.” He cocks his head back. “Mrs. Little is Ky’s mom. She was also my third grade teacher.”

“I sure was and let me tell you something…Rhett was a good student but boy was he mischievous. I never thought you and Kylan would graduate high school!”

“Ahh, Mrs. Little. I turned out okay, I’d say.”

She touches his arm fondly and looks pointedly at me. “He’s like my second son. He’s a special one. This man rebuilt my entire porch after the hurricane last year and didn’t even charge me.”

“That’s what you do for family,” Rhett replies, and an unwelcome tightness returns to my chest.

What would Rhett think of me once he knew my family dynamic or the lack of one?

That’s why he will never meet them. That’s why he will remain my little secret.

We spent the rest of the night trying copious amounts of food I didn’t even know you could deep fry. Rhett said he saved the best for last, twirling me around as he walked backwards, boots stomping, blue eyes shining in the lights, leading me to the Ferris wheel entrance.