Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“Of course, there’s a very good chance he’s straight and this conversation is moot.”
Archer grins, and I chuckle. “You asshole.”
“I’m giving you shit. I do know he and Dusty kissed a long time ago. I don’t know if it meant anything, but most straight guys don’t kiss other guys.”
No, they don’t. “Wow…I wonder how that happened.”
“It was a mistake. A big mistake.”
I nod, unsure what to say.
The truth is, no matter how frightening this is, I’m excited. It feels good to be interested in someone again, to look forward to spending time with them.
Now I just have to hope those feelings don’t ruin everything.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Rhett
“I’m picking up Meadow from school today, then having dinner with them,” I tell Talia. It’s sad that my therapist is the only person I have to talk to about things. That’s the point of therapy, I get that, but I figure some things are what someone else might talk to a friend about. So…what are you up to today? Just picking up a friend’s daughter from school, then having dinner with her and her father…oh…oh.
“I’m curious what you were thinking about just now. You looked like you were having an epiphany.”
Wow. She’s good. Are therapists psychic? “I was…acknowledging, I suppose, that Tripp is my friend now.” It feels like such a small thing…such a small, silly, stupid, incredible thing. “I’ve had acquaintances, of course, and people I could consider a friend of sorts. Dusty, for one, but that always felt a little one-sided because of his feelings for Morgan. I always knew Morgan was everything to Dusty, and if it came down to it, he would always choose Morgan, but the situation with Tripp feels different.”
“The friendship with Tripp?” Talia asks.
I smile. “Yes. That.”
“That’s good. I’m glad you have him. Friendships are important. Connection is important.”
And I do have a connection with Tripp. I don’t pretend it means as much to him as it does to me, but I know it means something. He likes me. He’s told me. “So yeah…I’m picking up Meadow today.”
“How do you feel about that?”
I shrug, but really, I know. It’s just embarrassing to have so much going on inside my head about something that shouldn’t be a big deal. “Helpful,” is the first word I let out. “Which feels good. I like to do things for people, but not in the ways I used to. Happy, I guess. Ridiculous.”
“Why ridiculous?”
“For being happy.”
“It’s okay to be happy about stuff like this, Rhett. That’s a good thing.”
“Not if you’re Gregory Swift’s oldest son.”
“You’re living your own life now, not for your father.”
I’ve been opening up to her a lot more about situations from my past, the things Dad drilled into me and how it shaped who I am…was? “That’s true. I’m also nervous. I don’t want to mess anything up. I don’t want to let Tripp down.” Jesus, how fucking ridiculous do I sound? How can I let someone down by driving their kid home and then eating dinner with them? But I feel like if there’s a way, I’ll find it.
“I imagine it’s difficult feeling that way, and the fact that you do says a lot about who you are as a person. You’re kind and caring. And you put a lot of pressure on yourself. Give yourself a little grace. It’s got to be hard living under that much weight all the time.”
It is. She has no idea how hard it is. I nod, and we continue the rest of our session. When I’m done, I pick up lunch at a drive-through, then head back to Birchbark.
What if Meadow is hungry or thirsty when I pick her up?
Once I’m back in town, I make a second stop at the store to grab a bag of chips, granola bars, and a bottle of water, then head to the middle school. I already got the wine, beer, and sparkling cider last night.
I get there an hour before school lets out and pull up in front to wait.
This feels weird. Is this weird? Should I not be here this early? Are they going to kick me out because I look like a creepy man parked outside the school? My leg bounces, hands squeezing the steering wheel. Maybe I should go and come back? But then, I don’t want to wind up being late either.
I glance up when I notice something move in my rearview. It’s another car, and I wonder if they’re going to ask me what I’m doing, or if I’m in the way, but then they park behind me. Oh, parents come early. I remember that. I’ve driven by schools a hundred times and seen the cars.
That helps me relax a little.
The time rushes by, and before I know it, the school bell is ringing and kids are starting to scatter like the wind. Teachers and school officials come out to help guide traffic and…did Tripp tell them I’m picking up Meadow? Am I going to get a hard time? Tripp knows what he’s doing, and I figure he has that part under control.