Page 22 of Rhett

Without another word, he leaves.

Ignoring Mom and Morgan outside, I get to work. I don’t know how much time passes before the door opens and Mom comes in.

“Rhett, it’s the weekend. Put your books away and come out to play with us. We’re going to have a picnic. We should enjoy the weather before it gets too cold.”

“I don’t want to. I’m busy.”

“Come on.” She leans over and kisses my temple. “It’ll be fun. You can choose one of your favorite games.”

“I don’t want to play.” Really, I do want to play, just know I shouldn’t. I’m sure Mom would have more fun with just Morgan anyway.

“Okay. Maybe in a little while,” she says, sadly, which makes me feel like a terrible son. If I stay in here and study, I’m letting her down, but if I go outside, I’m letting Dad down.

I’m always hurting someone, but Mom has Morgan, and that means Dad has me to depend on.

Mom makes sandwiches and puts those along with chips and drinks in a basket. She asks one more time if I want to join them, and I tell her no, but I can’t stop myself from watching her and Morgan outside, eating by the lake. Would it really beso bad if I took a break? Just to do something fun for me? But then I remember studyingisfor me. This is how I grow up to be just like Dad.

But why does Morgan get to play? Why does he get to have fun while I work, and then sometimes, Dad still acts like he’s better than me? Sometimes, Dad still prefers him to me. He always tells me when Morgan is better than me at something.

The door opens again, but this time, it’s not Mom’s voice, it’s my brother’s. “Do you want to come play catch? Mom can’t throw a football right.” He chuckles.

Yes. I want to play. Do you really want me to? Or are you only asking because Mom made you?

“No. God. How many times do I have to say I don’t want to go outside! It’s a stupid waste of time! Can’t you ever just leave me alone!”

I hate every single word I just said. Hate the anger in them…the sadness…the jealousy…the meanness. I hate that last part the most.

“Fine. Whatever. I was just trying to be nice!”

The door slams, and I give my attention to my books. Being alone is what I’m good at.

“Rhett?” A loud, deep voice pulls me out of the memory. I don’t know what that was about. I haven’t thought about something like that in a long time. Maybe it was my conversation with Talia today?

When another, softer, “Rhett?” calls out to me, I realize someone is talking to me…in my shop.

I switch off the saw and turn around to see Tripp Cassidy standing in the doorway.

I rip off the goggles. “What are you doing here?” The harshness in my voice makes me wince. “Shit. Sorry.”

“There you go apologizing again. We’re gonna have to find a way to stop that.” He grins. His cheeks are pink, I assume from the cold.

“What are you doing here?” I ask again, this time without the bite. My stomach flips uncomfortably. He’s in my space…seeing my things. Tripp is a fucking carpenter, for Christ’s sake. He’s probably wondering why I’m wasting my time. My work can’t be nearly as good as his.

“I came by to thank you for coming to Meadow’s party. You disappeared like Cinderella. I even looked for a glass slipper afterward and everything.” He gives me a playful smile. “Anyway, I went to the door like a normal person. I promise. But you didn’t answer and, well, I’m a carpenter. I’d recognize the sounds I heard from a mile away. I was curious.”

“It’s just for fun,” I say, not sure why I’m excusing myself.

“Holy shit. These are great. Did you make all this stuff?” he asks, walking around the shop, studying each piece.

Nerves attack my gut. “They’re not very good. It’s just something I do for fun. I’m not a professional.” I follow him, unsure how I feel about Tripp touching everything, and wondering what he’s thinking as he scrutinizes every piece.

“They’re incredibly good. I would know.” He winks.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Play games with me.”

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