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Rhett:Jackson is having some people over tonight. Want to go?
Rhett:Missing you already.
Rhett:Can I fire Savannah? I can easily find another bartender.
My stomach tightened. The last time Rhett and I were at Jackson’s together…
I had to remind myself it was different this time. We were together. And he missed me.
My teeth pressed into my lower lip as I clicked on the thread that included Rhett, his four siblings, and me. I knew the harassment was coming, just hoped it wouldn’t be so soon.
Savannah:Just talked to Mom. She mentioned she watched Brendan overnight.
Savannah:So… where were you, Bella?
Hattie:Really? I wonder what or rather WHO she was doing?
Ashley:I want details, Bella, but not THOSE details. Call me.
Rhett:Seriously? How long have you all been telling us to figure this shit out?
Rhett:Be happy and butt the fuck out.
Kyle:Does this mean you got your head outta your ass?
I rolled my eyes and put my phone down. I was not responding to their childish antics. I would call Ashley later. First, I needed a shower. And my bag out of the car. I must have been more confident than I realized when I’d thrown together an overnight bag.
After my shower, I put on fresh clothes and gathered up my stuff.
Now, where did I put my phone?
Entering the kitchen, I noticed it on the island next to my empty coffee cup. My eyes landed on our plates, still on the table from last night. I carried everything to the sink and turned to check my phone. No new messages, but I’d missed a call from Rhett. I tried him back but no answer, so I typed out a few texts.
Me:Tonight sounds fun. I need to ask your mom if she can watch Brendan again and can I invite Ashley?
Me:I miss you too. Washing the dishes before I leave.
Me:No. You can’t fire your sister.
I finished the dishes, grabbed my stuff, and headed to my car after locking up behind me. My phone chimed a few times with new messages.
Rhett:Mom already said yes. You can invite Ashley but you know how much she hates Jackson so she probably won’t come.
Rhett:Is it weird that I’m turned on by the thought of you doing dishes? Tell me you were naked the whole time. No wait, don’t tell me that.
I laughed and then bit my lip. A mix of excitement and nervousness washed over me at the idea of Rhett and me out with friends, together as a couple. I hoped it wouldn’t implode, because I wanted it to be the first of many nights.
Maybe I shouldn’t bring Ashley then.
Chapter Nineteen
Bella
My hands shook,but I had no idea why I was so nervous. I’d done this a million times, just notwithRhett. The last time was a disaster, but this was different—right? He was picking me up, and we were walking in there as a couple. Even though we hadn’t had that exact conversation, I was at least confident about that part. The part Iwasn’tconfident about was whether we could make it work. We didn’t have the best track record.
Things were so good between us during those four weeks after that morning when I told him I’d slept with Caden. That whole situation had ended up being a good thing because it forced us to slow down and actually talk. We spent almost every night on the phone. Rhett even came to the city a few times, and I spent two weekends back in Half Moon Lake. We had decided to take things slow. Between our friendship and his family, there was so much at stake.
Everything was perfect until the day he shattered me. It was impossible to forget the look in his eyes the second before his words confirmed what my heart already knew. He couldn’t handle that our relationship had just gotten more complicated because I was pregnant with a baby that wasn’t his.
