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)
“Gee, thanks, Dad,” Meadow teases, and I laugh. “I’ll clean up our mess.” She starts grabbing her school stuff while I unload the food.
“Can I do something? Get the plates?” Rhett asks.
“Yep. Cabinet right behind you, and the cutlery is below it.”
He pulls out three of each and sets them on the table, while I open the containers, then throw away the bags.
“Thanks for grabbing her, and for sticking around until I got home. It was sneaky, but I found a way to get you to hang out with us again.”
He shakes his head, a small smile on his lips. “You could have just asked.”
“Would you have come?”
“I don’t know,” he answers, and damn if it doesn’t tug at my heart.
“You’re here now.” I open the fridge and pull out a beer, wine, and the sparkling cider. Once I dig the cork out, I pour Rhett a glass of the white wine. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
“Wow. Dad is pretending he has manners,” Meadow teases.
“Hey, brat. I have manners.”
She shrugs. “Sometimes.”
I pour her drink next, putting it in a wineglass like Rhett’s, then open my bottle of beer.
We sit at the table together and begin dishing out ravioli and taking pieces of garlic bread. “Name something you’re grateful for, ready, set, go,” I tell Meadow.
“I’m thankful Rhett is here,” she says, smiling at him. His gaze is flickering back and forth between us like he’s not sure what to think.
“Hey, you stole mine. I’m thankful Rhett is here too.” I turn to him. “Your turn.”
“Can I steal your answer? Because I’m thankful I’m here as well.”
“We’ll let it slide this time. But next time, you’re going first.”
“Next time?”
“Oh yeah.” I grin, really fucking hoping there will be a next time. Probably more than I should. The fact that I went to Archer about Rhett is proof enough that I’m in over my head. It’s difficult because I have my fears of anything beyond friendship, but I’m also not the type to run. Archer was right about that. I stick around. I deal with whatever life throws at me, and I make the best of the situation. That’s who I am to the marrow of my bones, but when it comes to my interest in Rhett, I’m…stumped.
We eat and laugh together. Rhett is quieter than Meadow and me, but he watches us a lot…and smiles. I’m not sure I’ve seen Rhett grin so much in one day before. A smiling Rhett Swift is an incredible thing to witness.
When Meadow brings up her future plans to move to New York City, Rhett asks her, “You’ve been before?”
“Just once. Dad brought me about a year and a half ago. I already knew I was in love, but I fell in love even more. I feel like I belong there.”
“Then I bet you do,” Rhett answers her. “What do you like about it?”
Something in his question makes my breath hitch. I don’t know what it is about the words, or…maybe I do. It’s the fact that he’s interested in her, that he wants to know about her, that he cares.
“I love the diversity. That there are so many different people in one place, and that many of the people are there for that reason. While some enjoy the solitude of a smaller town, I take comfort in the thought of being around so many people. There’s a security in that for me. Does that make sense?”
Rhett nods. “It does. I think you might know yourself better than anyone I’ve ever met,” he replies, and my damn heart skips a beat.
She beams. “Dad says that too.”
I clear my throat, trying not to sound too emotional. “It’s true.”
“Your dad is smart. I think he gets it from you.” Rhett takes a bite of his food. “I assume fashion has to do with your interest in the city as well?”
“Oh God yes!” Meadow begins to ramble about clothes and events, and Rhett takes in every word. I don’t think fashion is something he’s the least bit interested in for himself, but he cares because she does. And Rhett seems the type who wants to know everything about everything, like the more he can fill his head with knowledge, the less he has to worry about intrusive thoughts.
No idea why I believe myself an expert on all things Rhett all of a sudden, but I’m a pretty good judge of character. And clearly, I’ve fixated on him.
The three of us talk long after the meal is over. It’s about seven when Meadow says, “I’ll do the dishes, and then I’m going upstairs to sew.”
“You can go ahead. I’ll take care of the kitchen,” I tell her, which I’m absolutely only saying because Rhett is here. We have a system, and tonight is her dish night.
“Well, I’m not gonna argue with that.” Meadow grins, and I chuckle. “Night, Dad.” She gives me a hug, and I kiss her temple. “Good night, Rhett. Thanks for today. I had fun. I hope you come over again.”