Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Olivia
This day has been perfect. Even the insane heat and humidity bearing down on us all day hasn’t deterred my euphoria. I don’t remember the last time I felt this way about someone. Yes, Rhett is an extremely attractive man, but he also has this beautiful golden core when you take the time to dig into him.
I feel like I can tell him anything, and there’s no judgment, only curiosity and eagerness to learn more. He makes me laugh, and being in his presence fills me with this giddy, sunshiny warmth. I don’t know what to do with all these feelings. I want to let myself explore them, but I also know I was never planning on staying here. I’ve already determined it can’t be an option for me, but Rhett and this whole life I’m building in Roots make me want to change that.
After putting our dishes in the dishwasher, I turn to Rhett for guidance. “So, what did you have planned for the rest of our never-ending day?”
“Follow me.”
He grabs my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. Between the smile he gifts me and the gentle look in his eyes as they land on me, I feel so adored. I’ve never experienced that with anyone before. I’ve never been able to physically see the love someone has for me.
He grabs a blanket in the other hand and whistles for Maverick to follow as we rush out through the back door. When we step out into the evening air, the humidity settles upon me, wrapping me up like a warm hug. Frogs croak and cicadas chirp. The sky is dusted with a beautiful blanket of shining stars, but all I can focus on is how natural it feels to hold Rhett’s hand, like I should’ve been holding it my whole life.
We reach the line where his perfectly manicured lawn meets the wild grass of the Texas plains. Instead of taking the path we usually take down to the river when we walk Maverick, he leads me to yet another trail. I don’t know how I never noticed this one before. I guess I’ve been so busy with the shelter, the café, and my parents that I haven’t spent much time exploring Rhett’s property.
Getting jealous of my attention being on Rhett, Maverick makes his way through the tall grass and then presses himself into my side, nearly tripping me. I release my grip from Rhett’s to stabilize myself. “Aw, Mav, I’m right here. I’m still paying attention to you.”
“He needs to learn to share,” Rhett remarks, watching me crouch down to give Maverick the affection he deserves.
“You’re just jealous because he likes me better.”
“I don’t understand why he would. I’m the one who gives him steak juice on his food, and he liked sleeping on my bed when you stayed the night at Callie’s. We cuddled.”
“Rhett Lawson! I thought you said you didn’t want him on the furniture.”
“That was before he spent a night with just me and gave me the puppy dog eyes. He’s such a good cuddler. I know he weighs ninety pounds, but that dog is a lap dog through and through."
"This makes me feel so much better because I sleep with him every night.”
“Did you honestly think I didn’t already know that? I see the dog hair all over your bedding. Come to think of it, I’ve seen him on your bed dozens of times.”
“Can you blame me? It’s impossible to say no to this little face,” I say as I crouch down and press my hands to Maverick’s plush cheeks.
Rhett’s boots stop marching, and he grabs the blanket that was tucked under his arm, laying it on the ground.
I look around us. We are in the middle of nowhere. There are no lights from the cottage or Rhett’s house to be seen, no sound of rushing cars or blaring sirens that I’ve become so accustomed to in San Francisco. It’s quiet, and it’s dark.
“What are we doing here?” The words come out as a whisper, as if raising my voice would shatter our delicate surroundings.
Rhett sits down on the blanket, grabbing my hand gently and pulling me toward him. Once I’m sitting on the blanket next to him, he wordlessly lies on his back, and I follow. I take in the faint hint of twinkling lights overhead.
“Have you ever stargazed before, like, real stargazing? Looking up at a sky polluted with city lights doesn’t count.”
“No.”
“Then you’re in for a treat. Next time you’re anxious, you and I can come sit out here in the silence with nothing but the stars to light our way, and it’ll be impossible for you to feel anxious anymore. It’s just so peaceful. I thought it was important for you to get to experience this part of Roots before you go… or you could just stay and enjoy it every day.”
I open my mouth to tell him once again that I can’t, but I don’t feel like arguing. I don’t want to ruin the moment. So instead, I lie on my back in silence, taking in the stars and letting my surroundings ground me. He’s right. With tiny twinkling stars overhead, nothing but the gentle sound of cicadas in the air, and Rhett pressed against my side, a wave of peace floods my soul.
Rhett slowly reaches over and laces his fingers with mine, making me feel so whole and loved. I bask in the feeling of this moment for several more minutes before breaking the silence.
“What did you mean earlier when you said that was when your parents still liked you?”
“Wow, you just dive right into things, don’t you?”
“I learned it from Callie. I just want to get to know you. You’ve helped me so much since I’ve been here in Roots, and I want to do the same for you, but I can’t help you if I don’t understand you.”
“I know.” He tugs Maverick’s sleepy body toward him so that his spine is pressed against his side. “I’m afraid that if I tell you about my past, you’ll think less of me.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve grown quite fond of you. I went from wanting to avoid you to choosing to hang out with you because I like the person you are.”
“You also had to live with me because of the flood in the cottage.”
“We could’ve figured out another arrangement, but we didn’t.”
“True. I just think you like the person you believe I am, but you don’t know who I was or who I truly am.”
“So tell me. Give me a chance to show you that the past won’t change things. I have a hard time believing you could’ve done something so terrible that it would change the way I feel about you.”
Anticipation fills me as the silence extends. Maybe I asked for too much. We haven’t made any kind of commitment to one another, but here I am trying to get him to open up to me, telling him I’ll still care for him after. Even though I believe the words with every fiber of my being, I recognize this is still a lot to ask of him given our circumstances.
“How about another question?”
“It’s not going to be any better.”
He frowns.
“Why did you look so panicked when you and Callie couldn’t find me at the bar?”
“For the same reason I’ve avoided bars before that night. I had a bad experience one time, and it’s been hard to shake.”
“That was… vague.”
A smile breaks out on his face, and I feel relieved. “My turn to ask you a question.”
“What? No! That doesn’t even count! You only gave me half an answer.”
He shrugs. “Guess you should’ve picked a better question. I gave you a second chance.”
“You’re so frustrating.”
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me. I don’t know why.” He smirks, turning toward me eagerly. “Okay, my question is… what’s the most embarrassing thing to happen to you?”
“No way! Veto! If you’re not going to answer my first question and give me a bullshit answer for the second, then I don’t have to answer your question.”
“Fine. Then I get another question.” I shake my head, but he asks anyway. “Has today convinced you to stay in Roots?”
“You don’t deserve an answer to your question after you dodged mine.”
“Oh, come on. Tell me!” He leans in closer, starting to tickle me.
“Never!” I huff out in between squeals. I roll away from him, trying to get relief, but he follows me closely. Again, I try to turn away from him and slip out of his grasp, but immediately his hands are on my hips, and he drags me into him. Then we both stop. Our gazes lock. My breath hitches, and my heart stops as I wait for him to make that first slow movement toward me, the anticipation of the sparks that are about to fly between us building with each second.
Something about the way he’s looking at me floods me with fear. What’re we doing? Why am I playing with both our hearts when I know I can’t stay here?
Instead of leaning into him like I desperately want to, I draw back and finally answer, “Today hasn’t changed anything.”