Chapter 43
Chapter forty-three
Rhett
“Are you finished with your drink?” A server nodded towards my empty glass, and I handed it to her.
“I am, thank you.” I smile, and a guy next to me, loading a plate with lobster from the grilling station, peers up over his sunglasses. I never understood people who wore sunglasses when it was dusk, but I try not to judge as I nod his way.
“I don’t believe I’ve met you.” He wipes a hand on a towel and holds it out. I shake it, noticing instantly the chocolate brown hair and high cheekbones. Must be an Elson.
“Rhett. I’m Audrey’s—” but Ray-Ban man cuts me off, a pearly half-smile painted on his face.
“My sister’s new boyfriend. Heard a Carolina accent and knew you weren’t with the Tippins group.
” I raise an eyebrow, thinking of everything I knew about Audrey’s brother.
Which wasn’t much; he’s a surgeon who she doesn’t see often.
And she told me not to talk to him until she was back, but other than his annoying habit of wearing sunglasses in the dark, he seemed okay. Nothing I couldn’t deal with, at least.
“I’m Andrew, her older brother.”
“It’s nice to put a name to a face,” I add, and he laughs.
“What’re you drinking?”
“It was whiskey on the rocks.”
Andrew nods towards the pool house, the plate of lobster still balanced on his hand.
“Follow me. I have an eighteen-year-old bottle of Glenfiddich we were just about to open. My sister will find you. She always ends up hiding in the pool house anyway,” he adds, and I look around, quickly scanning the crowd for a pink dress but decide to follow Andrew anyway.
The pool house is one large open room with a stairwell up to what looks like a lofted bedroom. It’s casual but I'm not fooled. I'm sure everything in here costs a small fortune. I enter after Andrew, and three other guys around my age look up from the white sofa they are all sitting on.
“Gentlemen, this is my sister’s boyfriend, Rhett,” Andrew announces, placing the lobster on the coffee table. I don’t sit, just stand, observing, and feeling like I’ve been transported into the twilight zone.
“How long have you been dating Drew’s sister?” one of the guys sitting with his legs kicked back asks. He’s also got sunglasses on.
I scrub my jaw. “It’s been a few months now.”
“Why, Liam, you can’t let go of the wet dream you had about Audrey ten years ago?” the other guy asks, quickly clocking my reaction. I give him none.
“Dude, my sister’s still off limits. So, fuck you.
” Andrew pops the top off a brand-new bottle of whiskey.
I’m not sure I want to celebrate with them though.
“And come on boys, that’s no way to welcome our new guest.” He smiles at me and finally pulls off his sunglasses.
His eyes are bloodshot and glassy. The dime bag of coke on the bar behind him catches my eye and I let out a humorless chuckle.
We might all be the same age, but there’s nothing I want to stand here and chat about with these glorified frat boys. I pull out my phone to text Audrey, letting her know where I am.
Andrew holds up the baggie. “You want a hit? I won’t tell Audrey. She’s a…rule follower? A tight-ass?” he adds, and I resist the urge to dock her brother.
“I’m good, I’ll stick to the drink tonight.”
Andrew shrugs, pouring amber liquid into a glass, and hands me it. He turns up the music, drowning out the live music outside near the pool.
“You’re better than the last asshole. No offense. What was his name, Jackson? Fucker loved his powder,” one of the guys on the couch chimes in.
I throw back the whiskey. I know it was meant to be enjoyed slowly, but nothing about being in this dim, loud pool house with these guys was making me feel like savoring something.
Also, Audrey never mentioned her ex having a drug problem? My head begins to pound, wondering if she didn’t let on about how much bullshit she truly had to put up with from him.
But then Andrew saddles up next to me, his breath wreaking of cigars and whiskey. I’ve never wanted to get the fuck out of somewhere so quick. But it’s Audrey’s brother, and the least I should do is try. For her.
“I had no idea you two had been together for months. Mom and Dad made it sound like it was just a few weeks. You can tell me—did this start during the engagement?” His eyebrows shoot up and mine furrow down.
“No,” I reply, my voice gruff, and I’m not sure I care much about being polite anymore.
“Well bro, I’m guessing I'll be seeing more of you and my sister, in what, a month from now?”
He sips his drink, but I shake my head.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, actually.”
“Oh shit, my bad.” He places a hand over his chest. “I assumed you were moving with Audrey for her new job. Maybe I got the dates mixed up or something. I just know my parents haven’t stopped yapping about finally getting her back home.”
As my stomach hollows out and my grip grows numb around the glass in my hand, the sliding door opens, and I turn to see Audrey cautiously step inside.
“There’s my baby sis!” Andrew pulls her off her feet into a hug she clearly wants no part of.
“Andrew. You smell like you’ve been drunk for days.” She pinches her nose, shoving him away and throwing me an apologetic wince.
But I’m still stuck thirty seconds in the past.
“You have a new job?”
Shit, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.
Audrey steps closer to me, her arms protectively across her chest. “What?”
A loud bout of laughter sounds from the patio outside the door, a toast of sorts starting, but my eyes are locked on hers.
“Are you moving to New York in a few weeks?”
“Rhett, what are you talking about?”
“Audrey, answer me.” The room is spinning, and she can’t meet my eyes.
“It’s complicated. I was, but now I'm not. I officially declined the offer today.” Her face falls as she whips her head towards her brother. “What did you say, Andrew?” But her brother just throws his hands up.
“I told him the truth, calm down. Thought you would’ve told your boyfriend by now.” He slinks back into the room, away from us.
“You want to tell me what the hell is going on, Audrey?” I snap out louder than intended and she pulls back.
“I can explain everything, but not here,” she pleads with me, but I can’t see past this moment. I need the truth, now.
“No, here. Now,” I bit out, not caring that four strangers were sitting just feet away.
Audrey bites her lip, her face white as snow, and I know she’s fighting back tears. I don’t know what I hate more right now, the fact that I’m the last to know I'm being left or that I'm the one out of everyone here who’s making her cry tonight.
“I was offered a promotion after Jackson and I split, it’s at my company’s headquarters in New York City, and I took it.”
I tip my head back, closing my eyes, unable to look at her, but she continues. “After the breakup I just wanted to get away. From everything and everyone. You have to understand that North Carolina never felt like my home…until you.”
“You need this more than me, man.” Andrew tries to pass the bottle my way, but I shake my head. Audrey grabs my hand, sinking her nails into my flesh.
“We aren’t doing this here. Please, I can explain everything.”