Page 61 of Rhett

“I just wasn’t sure where I’m supposed to go.”

“Right here.” I lightly splash the water between my thighs.

Rhett cocks a brow as if unconvinced but gets in.

“Relax. Have you never taken a bath before?” Chuckling, I pull him down so his back is against my chest.

“Not with another broad, six-foot man, no. Can’t say I have.”

“Me neither. We’ve been missing out.”

He relaxes further into the water, into me, and I’d like to think it’s because of what I said.

“This is nice.” I drop my head back and close my eyes.

“Yeah, it is.” He dances his fingers up and down my legs. “I see a therapist,” Rhett blurts.

“Okay…” I’m not sure what he expects to hear. Does he think there’s something wrong with therapy? “Meadow does too, as you know. And when she first told me that I was wrong about her and that she’s a girl, I went to therapy for a while. I wanted to work through what I thought that meant, my feelings, and how to be the best dad for her through it. Therapy can be a really good tool.”

“It’s where I came from when we had dinner at the diner in Lillington. That was my first time. I wasn’t sure how to feel, but then you and Meadow came over. She had on the jeans with the butterfly patches. That grabbed my attention because Ella, she loved butterflies.”

So that’s what he meant when he said his favorite months were ones when he saw a lot of monarchs.

“Meadow mentioned going to therapy, and all I could think was, this young girl is braver than me. She knows more about being herself than I ever will, and that made me want to keep going.”

I don’t think there’s ever been a time in my life where I felt as close to another person as I do with Rhett in this moment. Not because I relate to what he’s saying, but because of who he is, because he’s trusting me, sharing with me. And because he clearly feels the connection to my child that she feels with him too. He sees her, how special she is, and I can’t explain what that does to me. It doesn’t feel like it could be real.

“You’re brave, Rhett.” I kiss his temple, feel like my words aren’t big enough for who and what he is.

“Am I?”

“Yes. Fuck yes. We don’t all figure everything out on the same time schedule. That’s not how being human works. And the fact that you’re making changes at this age shows how brave and strong you are. It’s not easy when we’re already set in our ways.”

He nods, still touching and holding my legs. “I want to be better. I don’t want to be like him. Morgan, East, they have a real life. I want that too. And I want a better relationship with my brothers.”

I want him to have every one of those things, but beyond that, I just plain want him—all of him. Every day, all the time. “You’re incredible, Rhett.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“Then I’ll go that far for both of us.”

He chuckles softly, but there’s no real humor in it.

“Thank you for trusting me with that,” I tell him.

“I’m not sure there’s a damn thing I wouldn’t trust you with. I don’t know how this happened, but it’s bringing me to life.”

If there was any question how I felt before, there’s none now. My heart nearly bursts with feelings for this man…with love for him. I want him in my life, always. “Ever since April left, I haven’t been willing to take a chance on anyone, but I’d take every single chance with you.” Every risk. He’s worth it.

Rhett’s breath hitches.

“Maybe soon we can tell her about us. When you’re ready.” It’s wild how I haven’t been ready until this moment, but right now, I’ve never been surer about anything.

“Soon,” Rhett says. “Just…not yet. I don’t want to mess up and hurt her.”

“You won’t, but the fact that you care means the world to me. Toward the end, it wasn’t like that with April.”

He tenses slightly, and I figure talking about the ex-wife of the man you’re in a relationship with—and currently naked with—is probably a little awkward.

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