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I pause, reflecting on how different our lives are. “And what do I have?” I mumble. “A high school diploma, a beat-up Chevy, and a free room at my dad’s house.”
“Don’t.” Rhett turns me to face him. “Don’t put yourself down. You’ve done so many amazing things. I ride bulls for a living, but you…you save animals from being killed. You find them homes and take care of them. And you’ve done so, so much for your dad. You’ve made his life the best it can possibly be. What you do is meaningful.”
“I know. I’m not trying to put myself down, but this…” I wave toward his house. “This puts it all in perspective. I had hopes and dreams and—”
“Have. You have hopes and dreams, and they’re going to come true. I promise you, Mo.”
I sigh, looking up to keep the tears away. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. What I’d like to do is get a tour of this fabulous house.”
Rhett smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes, and I internally berate myself for speaking my thoughts.
He unlocks the front door and pushes it open. Stepping into the entryway is like stepping into Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
There are more floor-to-ceiling windows than I can count. Exposed beams run the length of the ceiling, and distressed wood runs the length of the floor. Everything is covered in rich browns and reds, creating a warmth I didn’t know was possible.
I move through the space, running my fingers along the mantel above the fireplace and stopping to look over a series of pictures. There’s one of Rhett and all his siblings, a few of him and Coop, and tucked in the back corner is a small photo of Rhett and me.
Dust has collected on the aged frame. I pull it from the mantel, wipe the dust off, and stare at the two people in the picture. It was taken after Rhett’s first live bull ride. He only stayed on for three seconds, but he was so excited, and I couldn’t have been prouder of him. We’re standing by the chute, his arm wrapped around my shoulders, and we’re wearing the biggest smiles.
“I miss those days,” I say softly.
Rhett steps up behind me, wraps an arm across my chest, and rests his head on my shoulder. “Me too.”
“Things were much simpler back then.”
“Things are still simple; we’ve just found ways to complicate them.”
“I’m surprised you had this up.”
After everything that happened, he still kept a picture of us up in his house. Warmth seeps through my veins, wrapping itself around my heart like a warm blanket.
“It’s my favorite picture,” he says after a moment. “Do you remember what else happened that day?”
I smile. How could I forget? “You took me to the diner to eat and then out to our spot under the old oak tree at the ranch.”
“And…”
“You told me you loved me for the first time.”
Rhett’s arm tightens around me. My eyes drift shut as he kisses the base of my neck, and I will him to say the words now, to tell me he loves me the same today as he did back then. But the moment passes, and when I open my eyes, I put the picture back and turn to him with an overly bright smile.
“I want to see the rest of the house.”
Rhett follows me through the living room, letting me explore at my own pace, and when I walk into the kitchen I nearly stumble.
“Holy shit,” I laugh. “Your kitchen is huge. Do you even know how to cook?”
Everything is stainless steel and oversized. His refrigerator looks bigger than my closet, and who uses a double oven these days anyway?
“I can make a few things,” he says, sheepishly.
I stop at the large island in the middle of the opulent room and run my hand along the slick, black granite counter top, admiring how different it feels than the Formica I’m used to.
“Yeah? Can you make me a fancy breakfast tomorrow?”
“Or, I can make you dinner now.”
Monroe
