Page 20 of Rhett

They scan the ice, and I watch East’s face transform when he spots them, see his smile and feel the emotion of it. “That’s…good. Real good,” East says.

Archer reaches over and takes his hand.

“He’s not who I thought he was,” I admit.

“We weren’t given the freedom or the luxury to figure out who we were. The three of us are doing it now…maybe Rhett the most.”

I don’t know what that means. Don’t know what went on behind closed doors in the Swift family, but what I’ve seen from Easton, coupled with what he just said, tells me it wasn’t good. Maybe that’s why Morgan left for ten years. Easton turned to getting into trouble, and Rhett…Rhett tried to make himself perfect.

I nod at Easton, then walk over to the wall and watch him skate with my daughter.

They don’t stay out there long, but when they exit the ice, Rhett’s laughing again.

“You got good quickly,” I tell him.

“I had a good teacher.” He gives me a small grin, then rubs a hand over the dark stubble along his jaw. He heads over to the tables, and somehow, I know he’s done skating for the day.

We take a break to eat, then to open presents. Rhett lingers toward the back, keeping his distance. Meadow beams at his gifts, so excited to have two mannequins for her clothes. I’m pretty sure Rhett blushes.

After gifts we have cake, and then some people head back out to the ice. I go with Meadow and her friends, and when I’m finished, I see Morgan and Dusty first. “Do you know where Rhett is?” I ask.

They shake their heads, and we look around. Morgan finds East, but he hasn’t seen Rhett either, and I have a feeling that when no one was paying attention, Rhett Swift slipped out.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Rhett

Idrive toanother session with Talia. I can’t decide if talking to a therapist once a week is really doing anything for me. I don’t understand the point of it, if I’m honest, but I’ve continued to go.

I did change my date and time, though. I don’t know if this is the office Meadow goes to, but I don’t want to risk running into her and Tripp.

I’m just about to sit in the waiting room when Talia comes out for me. I follow her to her office and take the same seat I choose every session.

“How was your week?” she asks.

“Not bad.” Okay, so there is a small possibility I’m never very chatty when I come here. It’s just hard to know what to say, hard to let the words out when I’ve always been told this is weak.

“You had the birthday party, right? How was that? You were a little nervous about it.”

“It was…good. I bought too many gifts.”

She smiles. “Is there such a thing?” she asks playfully, and I can’t help but grin. “Why do you think you did that?”

“Bought so many gifts?” I shrug. “Because I didn’t know what she had or what she would like.” Which is true, but also not. “I didn’t want to get the wrong thing.”

“Gifts are from the heart. Even if it’s something the person already has, I don’t know that it’s necessarily wrong, know what I mean? Sure, they might need to exchange it, but I don’t believe thatwrongis what I would call it.”

“Pfft,” I huff in reply.

“You disagree?”

“I guess that’s just not how I work.”

“Do you feel like you put a lot of pressure on yourself?”

My skin prickles with unease. “Yes, but it’s important to me to do well…to succeed.”

“Why do you think that is?”

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