Page 9 of Rhett

“I’m serious. This is my best friend right here.” He puts an arm around her, and I just stare at them, can’t take my eyes off them. What would it have felt like to have my dad put his arm around me and call me his best friend? Hell, not just me, any of us. What would it have been like to see from my own father the pride and love Tripp feels for Meadow? I can’t even comprehend it.

“Dad says he’ll follow me to New York when I move there after high school. I’m going to work in fashion.” Meadow beams.

“She didn’t get her good fashion sense from me.” Tripp pulls his arm off Meadow, and we share another chuckle. Again,I’m struck at the easiness of their relationship, of this whole conversation. That Tripp doesn’t push Meadow to a career he wants and lets her be her own person, and I wonder how different my brothers and I would have been without Gregory Swift as our father.

CHAPTER TWO

Tripp

Ican’t figureout Rhett Swift. Not that I think he’s a bad person or anything like that. He’s just hard to read.

When we were in school together, even through losing his mom at only nine years old, he was the guy who always got straight A’s, while also being a star football player and volunteering. He was valedictorian, a member of the National Honors Society, started the future young lawyers club at school, and hell, I don’t even know what they did, but Rhett kept it going all four years.

Then at the end of high school, tragedy struck again, and the family lost Ella. And yet Rhett pressed on, attending Harvard and prospering. He came home and became the most sought-after attorney in the area, then ran for mayor. He would have won too, taken the crown from his father, but then one day last summer he just walked away from it all—dropped out of the race and quit his job. He stopped eating in restaurants around Birchbark, avoided social functions, and was never seen with Gregory, though the two had been close before.

As adults, I’d never seen him in anything other than slacks and a nice shirt, but now when he does make an appearance, he’s in jeans and a T-shirt. He always seemed…stiff. Not the type to let loose, except when we were with the Thorns and I threw a snowball at him. At first, I thought I made a mistake and he was going to take offense, but then he’d thrown one back, enjoying himself in a way I can’t ever remember seeing him do.

It’s like there are two parts of him, in conflict with each other, and I’m not sure even he knows which will be the one to take control at any given time.

The waiter returns and takes our orders. Meadow does one of her favorite things and keeps the conversation going enough for all of us. She’s always been a people person. In some ways, she gets it from me. I like people, care about them, though I’m not quite as chatty. Meadow has never met a stranger and will do anything for anyone. While I admire those qualities in her, they also make me worry. The world isn’t always a kind place, and I wouldn’t hesitate to burn it down to protect her.

“Here you go,” the waiter says a few minutes later, returning with our plates. I got the fried chicken platter, Meadow the chicken fingers, and Rhett the fish and chips.

“Are you married?” Meadow asks Rhett.

I open my mouth to say something, but Rhett gives me a gentle shake of his head.

“Used to be. Not anymore,” he says simply.

“My dad too. My mom left when I was younger,” my daughter replies, and while it’s been a long time, I still feel a flash of sadness. Mostly for Meadow and not for me, though I can’t pretend it wasn’t nice to have someone around. I liked being married, loved April something fierce, but while I’m not in love with her anymore, I’m skittish about falling for someone again.

“I’m sorry about that,” Rhett tells her.

“It’s okay. I get sad when I think about it sometimes, but Dad is great, and if she didn’t want to stay with us, we don’t need her.”

Reaching over, I squeeze her shoulder, hoping she’s not just saying that for my benefit. Half the time, I’m wondering if I’m doing right by her, especially since she came out as trans. I wonder if it would be easier on her to have a woman around, a mom, but that’s not the hand we were dealt, so we do the bestwe can just the two of us. It helps that my family is local, and my mom and sister-in-law are always there for Meadow. Part of the reason I bring her to Lillington for her therapy is because they have a trans therapist. I want her affirmed in as many ways as possible.

“I lost my mom when I was a kid. She passed away. The situation is different, but I know what it feels like to lose a mom. You have a father who loves you a lot, though, and that’s a win,” Rhett surprises me by saying. I know he lost his mom, of course, but it’s not something I’ve ever heard any of the Swifts talk about.

“Oh no. I’m sorry. I bet it helped to have two brothers and your dad,” Meadow soothes.

A dark look washes over Rhett’s face, but it’s gone so quickly, I wonder if I imagined it. When his gaze flashes to me, I know I didn’t. Something’s been going on with the Swifts lately, and where talk in town used to be mostly about Easton and the trouble he’d get into, it’s now about Rhett as well. I considered asking Archer about it, but I don’t want to overstep. I’m sure it’s private family business that Archer wouldn’t share lightly.

“Is your food good?” Rhett asks her, changing the subject. Meadow doesn’t catch on and rambles about how much she likes their fries, while I study Rhett Swift. He’s fucking gorgeous, there’s no denying that—tanned skin, dark hair and scruff. He’s tall and broad, and while he’s definitely my type, more than any of that, I’m drawn to his eyes—to the deep brown that’s full of what I swear is loneliness. He tries to hide it, and hell, maybe I’m seeing something that’s not there, but Meadow is drawn to him, and my girl is always drawn to people who are hurting. It’s who she is.

“Do you want to come to my birthday party at the end of the month? I’m going to officially be a teenager, and I think Dad needs the support.”

“Hey. I’m handling it well, thank you very much,” I tell her, but really, I can’t fucking believe I’m going to have a thirteen-year-old child.

Rhett chuckles. “Your dad seems the type who can handle just about anything.” His gaze shoots to me, then quickly flicks away as if he’s unsure why he said that or embarrassed that he did.

“He’s the best, but my party…do you want to come?”

He pops a fry into his mouth. “I’m sure that’s a family thing.”

“Not really. Plus, Uncle Archer will be there, which means Easton will be there, and he’s kinda like my uncle since he’s dating Uncle Archer, and you’re Easton’s brother, so that makes you family too.” She beams at him, clearly very proud of herself, while I turn my attention to Rhett, silently willing him not to hurt her. I understand she can’t always get her way, that he has his own life and responsibilities and might not want to go to a thirteen-year-old girl’s birthday party, but I also don’t ever want her to hurt.

“How about we let Mr. Rhett get back to us once he checks his schedule?” I offer, and then to him, “You’re more than welcome, but we understand you might already have plans.” There. Now he knows he can come, but I’ve also given him an out if he’s not interested.

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