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“You know I will.”
We embrace once more, and I hold extra tight, knowing this is my last hug from him for at least a month, possibly longer if plans change.
“Have a safe flight and give Caiti my love. Tell her to call me when you land.”
With a choppy wave, we climb into our respective vehicles. I throw it in drive and follow Eric’s billowing cloud of dust out of the lot and onto the dirt road, focusing on his taillights rather than the tears that want to fall. When we hit the highway, he turns right toward town, and I go left. With watery vision, I watch him in my rear-view until he blends with the horizon.
23
Evie
An inkling of something unpleasant trills up my spine as I stand on the front steps to Rhett’s house. Thinking that phrase feels so strange after cleaning this house for the past few weeks. If I had known…would I have done anything differently? I can’t say I would have after receiving her helpful wages. Hurt pride be damned.
The door swings open, a mockery to last night with me outside and Rhett holding Tommy in the foyer. His warm smile chases away any lingering insecurity. He immediately steps back to let me in just as a rumble of thunder groans overhead.
“Puppy!” Tommy exclaims and reaches excitedly for Ghost.
“I hope it’s okay she’s here. I’ll keep an eye on them and make sure he doesn’t startle her.” I slide off my sneakers and nudge them out of the way of the door.
“Of course,” Rhett answers. His voice steals my attention from the baby, and I catch him perusing my body with blatant interest. The black mesh shorts were perfect for a short hike—cool and flowy. The loose tank top is functional though nothing to write home over. I dress for comfort above all else. Though Rhett’s expression uncovers no issue with my workout attire.
“I came straight from hiking with Eric.”
“How was it?” He jerks his head toward the hall. The farther we get inside, the more the initial feeling intensifies.
“Liberating.”
Rhett sets Tommy down, who makes a mad dash for his playroom. Our following gait is slower.
“And you? Did last night go okay?” I ask hesitantly.
A muscle jumps in his clenched jaw. My fingers itch to rub the spot. To soothe the tension away.
“She threw in the towel. I won’t believe anything until the judge’s ink is dry, but she said she’s finished.”
My brows dip over my eyes. “Finished? What does that even mean?”
“She packed everything. Her office is cleared out. Her clothes are gone.” Rhett rests his hands on his hips and studies his socks, giving the impression all is not well.
“Isn’t that what you wa
nted?”
He rubs his palm over his mouth before lifting his head. The hurt in his eyes sends my heart into a tizzy. Oh my God. He wasn’t still in love with her, was he?
“She left Tommy. Fuck, but I don’t think she’s coming back for him.”
His words crack my heart for an entirely different reason. I follow his pained gaze to the adorable little boy smacking a stuffed gray elephant against a rocking horse.
“No,” I whisper.
He keeps his voice low. “She wouldn’t discuss anything pertaining to him. Not custody or visits. I chewed her out for orchestrating that little drama between us, and we fought. Then we talked about the house and money, and I left to give her space to pack. By the time I got back from the hotel, she refused to talk about anything else. Crammed the rest of her shit in her car and drove off.
“I never wanted that for him,” he continues. Nothing I say here will fix the betrayal he feels for Tommy. He needs to get this into the open before it festers into something more. “I’d protect him from her at all costs if I thought she was a danger. I knew she was selfish by the way she cheated on me, but never in a million years did I think she’d abandon her son. What was all this for if not a fight for custody?” The confusion he feels expands in the room until I can feel it too.
“To hurt you.”
“Yeah, well she succeeded.”
