Chapter 18
Chapter eighteen
Rhett
Ithought because I hadn’t been on a real date for years, that tonight would be awkward.
What I never imagined, or rather wouldn’t let myself imagine, was her laughing in my backyard, her arms wrapped around my dog like they’re best friends, her voice carrying through these old oaks like she’d always been here, always belonged out here.
But it happened and I'm glad I followed her into her apartment, not taking ‘no’ for an answer. But as my knee bounces, my hands fidgety as the night continues on, knowing I have to take her back at some point, all I can selfishly think of is how to see this girl again. I don’t think my dog would ever forgive me if I didn’t bring her back.
She keeps taking sips of the cheap whiskey and Coke I made her, commenting on the movie, and I’m barely keeping up, my thoughts on everything but the movie.
“So, you have any fun plans this summer?” I ask, hoping she doesn’t have a million dates lined up.
But I'd be a fool to believe Audrey will stay single for long. There’s probably a stadium full of guys who’ve been waiting for their chance with her.
She sets her drink down, shaking her head as she swirls a gold bracelet around her small wrist.
“Not anymore.” She shrugs and I curse myself, wishing I could eat my question.
I hate that I made her think of him. “But over Labor Day weekend, I usually go back to New England. My parents throw an end of summer soiree at their beach home in the Hamptons, and my brother and I would most likely be dismembered if we didn’t show up.
They like to act like it’s a casual barbeque, but hiring a private chef to cook lobster table side doesn’t exactly scream ‘casual’, you know?
” She rolls her eyes, sucking in a breath.
“Can’t say I do.” I chuckle but she scrunches her nose and shakes her head.
“What about you?”
“You’re pretty much looking at it. I have a full calendar of jobs and most Friday nights you can find me right here in this yard. I’m not much of a planner.”
“That sounds amazing, actually.” Audrey’s face lights up, and her hair falls over her bare shoulders as she stares off into the meadow behind my house.
“I never thought I’d be moving in with my friend, Penny, this summer.
That was definitely not in the plans.” Her face falls and I get the urge to throttle a man’s neck who I never met.
At the same time, I should be thanking him for freeing Audrey from a lifetime of whatever shit he was going to throw her way.
“Plans are overrated. All my favorite memories happened spontaneously,” I reply, chuckling but Audrey doesn’t match my sentiment.
She stares at me for a moment, and I can’t decipher what she’s thinking.
Which drives me wild. “If you ever want to get out of the city and blow off some steam, you can come on by. There’s about ten acres beyond this yard, and the only one who ever explores it is Mabel. She’d probably like some company.”
She narrows her eyes and for a moment, I wonder if I went too far. The truth was, I wouldn’t care if Audrey showed up and kicked back in the glider on my front porch whenever she pleased. She wouldn’t even have to talk to me, though I couldn’t promise I’d be able to keep my eyes off her for long.
I wasn’t always a nice guy. Lord knows I’ve been an ass more often than not. I’ve broken a few hearts. But I was trying to leave that in the past, carve out a life I could be proud of. I had no idea what it was supposed to look like yet, but I liked the idea of it involving Audrey Elson.
“You’re just extending an open invitation to a person you barely know…to what, sit on your porch?” Her eyes were still narrowed at me.
“Okay, when you put it that way, you make me sound like a crazy person. But yeah, that’s pretty much what I’m doing.”
She nods slowly. “Hmm…”
“You’re not going to suddenly pepper spray me, are you?” I joke, and see a glint in her eye, followed by a tiny smile.
“No, Rhett, I’m not going to pepper spray you. I’m just wondering how the hell we crossed paths.”
“You regretting it already?” I down the last bit of my whiskey.
“Actually, I'm not.” She smiles, locking eyes with me, and at that moment, I knew one thing about this summer.
I would be doing whatever it takes to see her again.