Chapter 26 Noah
NOAH
As dawn breaks, I awaken to the dim light in an unfamiliar room. T-shirt stuck to my skin, my heart lurches frantically in my chest. The comfort of Rhett’s embrace is gone. I roll to the side, feeling for him, but he’s nowhere. A whirlwind of emotion crashes through me. I’m alone.
My breath comes fast and shallow, there’s no controlling it.
Too many memories ravage my mind, and a small whimper escapes my lips.
I press my fingers to them to contain any more signs of distress from leaking out.
Cringing at how close I came to folding in on myself and totally losing it, I rub my hands over my face and jam the heels of my palms into my eye sockets.
They’re swollen and puffy to the touch. I’m a mess but can’t find it in me to care.
Then it hits me. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, a welcome distraction. Rhett.
Unfolding my legs from my chest, I slip to the edge of the bed and stand.
The scent of coffee draws me from the room and down a long hallway.
Several doors line the passage to the stairs.
I can’t believe he actually built it. My heart stutters.
Because this? It’s the home he’d been planning to build for us. For the future I stole.
Recognition dawns when Rhett’s raspy, low voice carries through the air.
From the way he’s speaking, whoever is on the other end has asked after me.
Could be Grandma Jo. Could be Kade or even Sage.
The regret in each word twists my heart in my chest. He’s heaped all the blame for what happened to me onto himself.
Why did I think I could live without breathing the same air this man breathes, without feeling every day of my life the almost obsessive way he’d loved me?
I don’t know how to process, much less what to do about his guilt, and my heart aches for everything we’ve been through this week.
But also for everything the younger versions of us lost because I was too focused on thinking a choice had to be made—him or my career.
The reality is, I could have had it all.
As Rhett finishes the call, he mentions something about a fence and some cattle.
That must be Kade. I slowly descend the stairs, putting one foot in front of the other until I reach the last step.
My lips part in wonder as a kitchen—one that had only existed in my head and in my notebook of ideas—comes into view.
All those years ago, when planning our future, Rhett had chuckled at my animated excitement about all the things I’d love to have in our dream home.
My eyes skim over the expansive counter, and I can’t help but see myself here baking cookies or preparing meals for us.
He fills two mugs with coffee, then puts plenty of sugar in mine.
The hardwood step creaks, giving away my presence.
Rhett turns his head toward me. “I didn’t realize you were awake.
” His eyes wander over my face, apprehension clouding them.
“I was about to bring this up to you.” He’s been so cautious.
So fucking careful. Holding out one of the mugs, he gently coaxes me to join him.
“Sorry, I had coffee and sugar, but no cream.”
“It’s okay.” I scrape my teeth over my lip, everything in me screaming to run into his arms. But we aren’t ready for that. So, instead, I slowly close the distance, feeling almost like a stranger with this man I know so well.
It feels … wrong.
“I don’t stay here much. We can have someone bring some groceries later.” He sets the mug down on the granite with a distinct clunk before pulling back one of the stools for me. “Do you wanna sit down?”
“Sure.” Easing myself onto the seat, I wrap both hands around the warmth of the cup.
Rhett sits beside me and takes a careful sip of his coffee. From the corner of my eye, I watch the grimace tug at his mouth. “I’m sorry.” He rubs a few fingers over his lips. “Thought I’d be back upstairs before you woke up.”
I shrug, unwilling to cause him any more worry. “It’s fine.”
Several quiet moments pass while neither of us seems to know what to say. His eyes take in every minute flutter of my eyelashes and hitch of my chest before daring to reach out with gentle fingers to sweep the hair from my cheek.
For some reason, that simple touch does me a world of good.
I don’t want to tell him as much, but Rhett might be the only one capable of holding all my broken pieces together so that I don’t shatter beyond repair.
Lowering my eyes and lifting the coffee to my lips, I blow carefully while meeting his gaze.
What do I say to him? I’ve been wondering about something ever since he burst into that hotel room.
My voice lowers. “How did you know to come find me?”
The furrow of his brow deepens as I wait without breath for him to speak. His lips press together, and he exhales sharply through his nose. Expression grim, he shakes his head. “There was a note in my hotel room. Inside a fancy gift box, to be exact.”
Confusion tugs at my mind. “What?”
“At first I thought it was something all the guests received. Then it became clear it was not.”
“Bradley?”
As I open my mouth to ask about the contents, he closes his eyes. “Noah,” he warns. “Don’t ask me, please. Let’s leave it. I knew you needed me.”
Anguish burns through my veins, and I shake my head, unable for several seconds to put my thoughts into words. My heart clenches hard in my chest. “And you came.”
Rhett’s jaw is so tight he’s probably cracking his teeth from the pressure. “I’ll always come for you,” he grits out. “You will never be in a position where you have to wonder whether you can count on me or not. Because I will always be here.”
I stare into the dark eyes I know so well and feel something inside me knit back together. Slowly, I nod my understanding.
“No one is ever gonna hurt you again.” He cocks his head to the side when I cover my face. With the sort of care he offers an injured animal, he tugs my hand free, coming in close. “Do you hear me, Noah?”
“Yes.” I can’t stop the tremble of my lips. Swallowing hard, I pick up the coffee to give me something to do with my hands.
Rhett stares past my eyes and into my soul. “I keep trying to sort through everything that’s happened, but I’m getting stuck on one question.” He drags in a careful breath. “Why did you choose him? At the wedding I could see you weren’t happy.”
I lower my gaze to the granite counter, absently tracing my fingers over it as I brace myself to explain things. “I—” My lips snap shut. It’s Rhett’s gentle squeeze of my shoulder that finally brings me back to him. “It’s so complicated. I don’t know where to start.”
“The beginning is usually a good place.”
“You sound like Grandma Jo.” I spy his lips twitching into a smile.
“She’s a smart lady, so I’ll take the compliment.”
“It started with the contract I signed. We can talk details later, but essentially, I made a rookie blunder.” My nerves wreak havoc on my composure, and I swallow.
“I didn’t fully understand that I was signing away the rights to my masters, giving him ownership of all new releases until my first five albums were produced. ”
“Fuck.” Rhett’s eyes burn with anger.
“Yeah. Fuck is right. I’ve only recorded two of those five, which means he owns me and everything I create.
” An aching chuckle bursts from my chest. “When I went to Harold Hemstock to ask him to release me from my contract, he said there was only one way he’d break it.
” I press a few fingers to my temple, hoping to ease the tension.
Rhett’s eyebrow goes up. “This is Bradley’s father?”
“His son wanted his wagon hitched to mine. Thought marrying me would fix his failing career and reputation. He’s not well liked within the industry. He’s a fucking slimeball.”
“This was all for their fuckin’ egos?” Rhett growls.
“Yes.” I wince, sighing out my frustration.
“I was so stupid. And stuck … for an entire year. At the end of which, it was agreed we’d part ways, and that’d be it.
And I could get back to my life. One year in exchange for all my music and the freedom to do what I want and live wherever I chose sounded good at the time.
” I naively thought it would be that simple. Little did I know it would break me.
Rhett rubs a hand over his face. “So this wasn’t the great romance they’ve billed it as?”
“No. It was always fake. We live together but have separate bedrooms. I thought I had everything under control, thought I could handle it.” How am I going to get through this conversation?
He deserves to know. “In the beginning, warding off his sleazy advances wasn’t so bad.
As time went on, handling his controlling ways became a part of my job description.
It wasn’t until after I signed the second contract and the NDA that things started to escalate.
Bradley became delusional. He was on some kind of power trip and thought I belonged to him.
” I give Rhett a sad smile. “When I saw you at Boozin’ Boots, I realized how big a mistake I’d made.
” I stop and stare into his eyes as regret eats me alive, gnawing at my chest until it’s hard to breathe.
“Being back in Black River was a catalyst for physical violence.”
His brows furrow. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Clenching my teeth, I exhale hard. “He had photos of us from that night.”
“What do you mean? What kind of photos?”
“He had me followed.” I press my eyes closed before mumbling, “The kiss. Outside the bar.”
“Fuck.” The word rips from his chest.
“When I got back to the penthouse, he had photographs strewn across the table. Said I was embarrassing him publicly. And even though we weren’t a real couple, I couldn’t be whoring around where anyone from the tabloids might figure out that our relationship wasn’t what we were selling it to be.
” Rhett takes hold of my hand to stop it from shaking and gives me the courage to continue. “That was the first time he hit me.”
His face darkens, flushing red with rage. Out of nowhere, he stands abruptly, knocking the stool over. His chest heaves as he stares at me, guilt building in his gaze. “I’m gonna kill that motherfucker.” Then, he pivots and plows his fist into the refrigerator. “Fuck!”
I gasp, watching him with wide eyes as he struggles for control, pressing his forehead to the cold steel. The sound of his labored breathing fills the air. He turns around, shoving his hands into his hair. His fury-filled eyes soften slightly as he rasps, “How many times, Noah?”
“More than he should have.” Quietly, I add, “Things got progressively worse closer to the wedding. But nothing as bad as—” I stop, needing a moment to finish. “That night. The night you found me … was the first time he did that.”
Rhett steps closer, holding my focus. “I need to know who and how many were involved.” His voice is clipped. Fiery. Furious.
Anxiety rattles my spine as I start to shake. In the base of my throat, a lump forms as unshed tears gather along my lower lashes. Digging deep, I muster enough strength to give Rhett what he needs. “Three.”
When I don’t expand on my answer, he pushes, “Who were they?” Muscles at his jawline twitch. “Noah, please tell me. I need to know.”
“His groomsmen. They were invited to the room. Bradley put something in my drink.” My stomach twists, and I close my eyes, keeping tears from cascading down my cheeks.
“By the time I understood what they were there for, it was too late.” I choke on the next words, forcing them from my mouth. “I couldn’t make them stop.”
He nods, fingers tightening their grip on his scalp. Under his breath, he fumes. “Fuck. Shit. Fuck.” Unable to look at me, he tears his gaze away and paces the kitchen as I watch his control slip further.
My eyes widen, heart jumping up into my throat as I choke out, “Rhett!”
“I need a minute. If I don’t get a hold of myself, I’ll pick up a bottle of whiskey.” He shakes his head. “And the last time I drank away my emotions, the love of my life was brutally attacked.” He heaves out a breath. “So, just bear with me.” A moment later, he’s gone.
I can’t even be mad at him for walking out. Not when he’s been my rock through all of this. Even the strongest steel sometimes bends.