Chapter Eighteen
Rhett
For almost two months, things have been great between Brynlee and me.
We’re official, and there have been no other incidents of people in town talking about her that I’ve been made aware of.
We went to buy her a new car at Isaac’s dealership, which makes me feel a lot better knowing she’s driving safer these days.
Every night is spent in bed, and the sex is amazing. Even when I dated Honor for those six months, we didn’t spend as much time in bed as I do with Brynlee. But more than that, we talk. We dream. It feels like the universe has finally given me the woman I’ve prayed for.
Last night was a late one, and not only am I sore, I’m tired as hell. Coffee at three in the afternoon isn’t something I normally make, but I need a pick-me-up. Especially since we’re getting together again tonight, and tomorrow is Thanksgiving with my family. She’s finally meeting everyone.
For the first time, it doesn’t feel like I’m on borrowed time with her. That we’re in this together with the same goals and wants. She wants everything I do, and I’m feeling more secure than ever before. Until the moment I hear my guys talking in Stanley’s office across from the breakroom.
I stand by the coffeemaker as I wait, and the door to the breakroom blocks me from view of anyone. They’ve all gathered in my shop manager-slash-accountant’s office.
“She’s way too hot for him,” Tyler says, and I get that sinking feeling in my gut. The one that tells me he’s talking about Brynlee. And me.
Normally, I don’t mind this type of conversation. When I’m involved. I’m more than aware that my girlfriend is way out of my league, and it’s kind of a compliment when guys tell me I really leveled up. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter that they wonder why she’s spending her nights with me.
“Rumor has it, Rhett’s packin’ some big equipment downstairs, if you know what I mean. That’s what Honor tells everyone—poor Everett—and that has to be at least part of the reason she’s stayed with him so long. Women do tend to stay with a man who can lay it down that well,” Roger says.
The comment disgusts me, but it’s also confusing that it’s a little flattering. I think. They’re acknowledging I’m not only above average in areas that can’t easily be improved upon, but also that I have sexual prowess. Which is true. Unlike them, I don’t brag about it.
But the fact that Roger, and now everyone in Stanley’s office, actively think about my dick size ruins it. I don’t know how I’ll look them in the eye again. The guys have now thought of me naked thanks to Roger. That borders on sexual harassment, I think.
“Have you seen the guy she’s engaged to?” Stanley asks.
Wait, did he just say engaged?
“No, who is he?” Tyler asks. “And she’s engaged? What’s she doin’ here if she’s marryin’ someone else?”
“Kevin Sandoval. You know… Sandoval Whiskey? It’s his company. The guy comes from big money. His dad is some real estate tycoon in the Midwest, and he likely did business with the mob. Oh, and I think Kevin’s a model, too.”
I never ask about Brynlee’s ex, and she never brings him up. Now, I regret that decision. I can’t get his name out of my head. Kevin Sandoval. Kevin Sandoval.
“And Brynlee’s marryin’ him? Holy shit, he’s good lookin’,” Tyler says.
“Accordin’ to this, they’re gettin’ married in February. It’s a lovely little weddin’ countdown website. It’s goin’ to be a big deal—Jesus, look at that engagement ring!”
My world crashes to a halt. She’s getting married in February? What have I been doing with her, then? She said he was her ex-fiancé, but what’s with the countdown? I have to know everything about this guy.
“Hey…” Roger asks, his voice wavering. “Who made coffee at three in the afternoon?”
“That’d be me,” I call from the other side of the door.
The scurrying of feet would make me laugh if I wasn’t currently weighed down with dread.
Tyler mumbles an apology as he runs away, and I stare at the machine in front of me.
The last thing I need now is coffee, and I walk out of the breakroom to find Stanley standing in the doorway of his office, his eyes wide and light reflecting from the sweat on his shiny, bald head. “Rhett, I… I don’t know what to say.”
Normally, I’d pacify him and tell him it’s okay even though it’s not.
I’m the type of guy who holds in my pain and anger, but not today.
“You’re worse than a bunch of damn high school girls gossipin’.
Assumin’ I don’t fire all of you for wastin’ company time, I’d suggest you check the breakroom before talkin’ shit about someone next time. ”
Fear paralyzes him as he stares with eyes nearly bugging out of his head, and I just walk away, coffee forgotten. Let him worry about his job. And make the others worry, too, while he’s at it.
I walk out to my pickup and hop inside, pulling out my phone as I peel out of the lot.
“What kind of tire do you need now?” Carter asks.
I’ve only called him three times today, but he sounds annoyed. Normally, I’d care and ask him what’s going on, but not today. “Are you in your office?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I’m stoppin’ by.”
“Man, it’s not a good day—”
“I’m stoppin’ by, Carter,” I bark and turn down the road towards his tire shop.
It’s the last thing I say before I hang up, and Carter stands outside when I pull up. Whatever annoyance he had earlier changed to concern as he waits for me to get out. “What’s wrong?”
“Computer,” I say, letting him lead me into his office. Shutting the door, I lean against it. “Look up Kevin Sandoval. Owner of Sandoval Whiskey.”
He sits in his chair, and I can’t breathe. “Oh, I love that stuff. Expensive as shit, but I was plannin’ to get it for you to celebrate the bachelor party I’m sure I’ll be throwin’ soon,” he says and types on his keyboard.
“Don’t ever buy me that stuff.”
I know I could do all of this on my phone, but I’m not in a good headspace right now. Depending on what I see, I’ll probably break it.
“Why are we lookin’ him up?” he asks. “Seriously, why did you have me pull up an underwear model?”
“Do you have a picture up?”
“Yeah.”
Rushing beside him, I almost shout as I see a man at least five years younger than me with a chiseled jaw and perfect everything on the screen. “Son of a bitch.”
“Guess he has diverse interests. What’s goin’ on, Rhett?”
“This is the guy Brynlee was engaged to in Chicago.”
His jaw drops as I fall against the wall behind him. “Seriously?”
Her name catches my eye as he backs out of that screen. “Click on that next search result.”
He does, and we both stare in disbelief. He shakes his head and leans back in his chair. “There has to be some type of mistake.”
“They’re gettin’ married February fifteenth. It has a damned countdown,” I growl.
I know he wants to close out, but he knows better. Instead, he scrolls down to the comments, some of them as recent as yesterday.
So excited for the two of you! Can’t wait for the wedding. It’ll be the biggest event in years!
You two make such a perfect couple. We’re all waiting for the baby announcement following your honeymoon! You’ll make beautiful children.
“Click on the engagement announcement,” I say.
He does, and a large picture of Kevin and Brynlee appears on the screen. She’s in a gorgeous black dress while he wears a relaxed suit. They smile for the camera, and while I can see it doesn’t reach her eyes, they look so damn perfect together. The perfect couple she and I will never be.
“Rhett—”
“The weddin’ isn’t called off.”
Turning, Carter faces me. “She’s here, Rhett. She’s not in Chicago. There’s got to be an explanation.”
“She’s bidin’ her time before she goes back to her perfect life. Testin’ out somethin’ different. Last fling before the ring. Take your pick on the reason.”
“Does that really sound like Brynlee? And what’s she waitin’ for if she’s goin’ to marry him? Christmas? New Year’s? Come on, man. There’s a reason that explains this all perfectly that’s not goin’ to be found in the deep end you’ve just jumped into.”
“I told you this was goin’ to happen. I pushed my fears aside like you told me to, and I got bit in the ass!”
I’m angry. Really angry. At Brynlee. At Carter. At this damned, perfect Kevin Sandoval. But mostly, I’m angry with myself for falling hopelessly in love with a taken woman.
“Or, and here’s another really good option… whoever’s in charge of the weddin’ shit forgot to take this down when she left. I doubt somethin’ this large was managed by Brynlee. Or maybe it was, and she forgot with everythin’ else she canceled.”
“She called off her engagement and didn’t tell any of their friends or his family? People commented yesterday, Carter.”
“Okay, I don’t have a good explanation for that one, but Brynlee will. Talk to her, man.”
I turn before he can see the tears in my eyes. “God, I’m an idiot. I’m so stupid.”
“No, you’re not.”
Laughing, I take inventory of all the pain. It’s worse than anyone before now, and I know why. “I was goin’ to tell her I love her after introducin’ her to Mom and Pop.”
“Do it!”
“I can’t!” I shout and walk to the door. “I’m a fool. A damned fool.”
Pacing is the only thing that stops me from crying and punching things. Anything. This was always going to end, and I was stupid enough to believe maybe it wouldn’t. Maybe this time would be different, and we could be something.
“Rhett, calm down.”
“When people look at that picture of her with him, they think perfect and handsome couple. When people look at me with her on my arm, they assume I have a massive cock in my pants because that’s the only reason a girl like her would ever have an interest in a guy like me.”
“Well, you do kind of have… Oh, okay. We’re not quite to the laugh-about-it stage of the freak out. Got it.”
Glaring at him, I clench my fists. “This is your fault. I listened to you, and I pushed all of my expectations down. I decided to show her how good bein’ with someone like me could be. I did everythin’ right, and I should have listened to my head instead. You did this!”
“Woah, this is not my fault, Rhett. And this might just be a big mistake, but you won’t know until you talk to her. Call her. Right now, call her and ask her.”
“So she can lie to me? Like she has been? She told me he was her ex-fiancé. Does she have the ring hidden somewhere to keep me from seein’ it when I stay over?”
Reality hits me, and I can’t breathe again. The woman I love is marrying another man in less than three months. There’s a deadline date. An official one, and I’m going to lose her. After she made a fool out of me.
“Rhett, you’re freakin’ me out. You’ve never reacted like this before.”
“I’m the other man,” I say and laugh like a maniac. “Normally, I get left for someone else, and I guess I should be flattered I’m the one she chose to cheat with. Who would’ve ever pegged me as bein’ the other man? I never did.”
“Stop it! Talk to her!”
Shaking my head, I open the door. “I fell in love. Real love. I would have given her anythin’, Carter. Done anythin’ she asked me to, and just like everyone else, she always planned on leavin’.”
“You don’t know that for sure. There could be a very logical explanation.
If nothin’ else, I guarantee you’re a better boyfriend than this asshat was.
Maybe she’s givin’ herself space but still plans to call off the weddin’ if she hasn’t already.
I don’t know… It’s a different world when you’re talkin’ high society shit. ”
“She’s high society, alright. I’m tater tot casserole. Somethin’ she ended up with a lot of but ultimately won’t want once she’s had her fill and is sick of me.”
Tilting his head, Carter narrows his eyes. “What?”
“Nothin’,” I say. “I have to go. Don’t tell Darla about this, okay? I don’t know what I’m goin’ to do yet, but the last thing I need is Darla jumpin’ in and possibly attackin’ Brynlee.”
“They’ve been spendin’ a lot of time together.
They’ve become the best of friends. Do you really think Brynlee would put this much effort into startin’ a new life if she never planned to stick around?
I mean, why go through all of this if she’s goin’ to go and marry some other guy in February?
Somethin’ about it doesn’t make sense, Rhett.
Once you cool down and take a step back, I know you’ll see it, too. ”
No, I won’t see it. I see it perfectly clear now, and all I see is Brynlee driving away from me. Far away and never looking back.
The worst part is that I knew better, but I did it anyway. I fell in love, and there’s no one to blame but myself.