Page 67 of Rhett

“But I don’t want her to always have to be strong. I just want her to be able to live her life.”

Bruce nods, sympathy clear on his face. “There’s not a better father than you, Tripp. Hell, I can only hope to be as good a dad to my kids as you are, but you also have to live your life. Meadow will want you happy. That little girl loves you more than anything in this world. You’re her hero, and you’ll always do your best to protect her, but you can’t shield her from everything in her life. You can’t hold yourself back from being happy because some little asshole at school might say something to her. You support her, and you love her, and when the world shows her its uglier side, you’re there for her. And the rest of us will be too. You deserve a partner, and it won’t do you or Meadow any favors if you hold yourself back from someone you love.”

He’s right. I know he’s right. I drop my head against the back of the couch. “Yeah, the thing is, I don’t think I could hold myself back even if I wanted to, and part of me feels guilty for that. Fuck, B. I want him. Want to be with him. Want him to be mine.” I roll my head to the side and look at him.

“How cute. My brother is in love. I can’t wait to find out who he is so I can tell him how you went through a phase as a kid where we couldn’t get you to shower, and you walked around with a cloud of dirt behind you.”

I swat him. “You asshole.”

“Hey, you told Robin stories about me. All’s fair when it comes to getting revenge on your brother.”

We chuckle, but then I say, “Thank you. I’m glad we’re close.”

His forehead wrinkles, like he’s wondering where that came from. “I’m glad we’re close too.”

Footsteps sound from behind us, and then I hear, “Hey, Dad. Hey, Uncle Bruce.” Meadow walks over and sits between us.

“Hey, Meadow-bug.”

“Is everything okay?” she asks.

My chest swells. “Yeah. It’s perfect.”

She drops her head against my shoulder. Bruce pats her on the thigh, then gets up, making an excuse to leave, and we sit there together, watching the snow fall.

“Next time we should try harder to get Rhett to come with us. I don’t like it when he’s alone,” she says.

My heart expands to the point where it feels like it won’t fit in my chest. “I agree. We will. I don’t like it when he’s alone either.” I put my arm around her and kiss the top of her head. “I also think you’re really freaking awesome.”

“I get it from you.”

I smile. “I think you get it from you, but thanks.”

We sit a while longer, then join our family for dinner.

When we get home, Meadow and I take care of our nightly routine, then head to bed. Once I’m alone behind my bedroom door, I text Rhett.

Me: You awake?

Rhett: Yes.

I call him, and Rhett answers instantly. “Hello.”

“Hey, baby. How was your day?”

“Good. Really good. I finished Morgan’s stools, and Dusty came over. We had fun, but after he left, I spent the last few hours worried I messed up.”

Nerves twist in my gut, but it means so much to me that he admitted those things. Rhett is opening up, trusting me and those around him more and more. “Why? What happened?”

He doesn’t answer right away, so I sit here, listening to him breathe, giving him the chance to work through what he needs to say.

“I told Dusty about us. He won’t tell anyone, so you don’t have to worry about it getting back to Meadow, but I probably should have talked to you about it first.”

My worry evaporates, and I beam into my dark bedroom. “You’re so fucking sweet, and you don’t even know it. I don’tmind that you told him. I’m fucking honored that you did. It means a lot to me that you wanted to share us with someone you care about. And actually, I did something similar—I told my brother I’m with someone. I didn’t out you, of course, but I wanted to sharesomething.” This is fucking ridiculous.We’refucking ridiculous, but in the best possible way. “I mean, I think it’s a sign that we both opened up to someone the same day. Feels pretty meant-to-be to me.”

I hear the smile in Rhett’s voice when he says, “Me too. No one has ever been this good to me before. I didn’t know it was possible.”

“Jesus, baby. I wish you were here.” He could be here, and he would be if I told Meadow. I want that. Maybe need it.

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