Page 62 of The Fine Line
“Yeah, well, some of us don’t have time for fun,” I say. “Some of us are too busy trying to be taken seriously and actually working toward our goals.” I pause. “And I don’t need anyone else in my show.”
“Of course you don’t,” he says, nodding. “Keep it up, and I’m sure you’ll get exactly what you want, Cub.”
I’m ready to fire back, but my mouth snaps shut. My jaw tightens, teeth grinding. I don’t know where they come from, but suddenly, hot tears sting my eyes.
“You’re an asshole.”
Rhett presses his tongue to the inside of his cheek. “Back at ya,” he says with a sniff.
I scoff, then spin on my heel. I pause for a beat in the doorway, glancing back at him. “Do me a favor. Next time you feel like helping me—don’t.”
I take off. I’m barely halfway through the kitchen when I hear him mutter, “Dammit.” Then there’s movement behind me,followed by Rhett calling out, “Cub, wait—” just as I bolt out the door and into the hallway.
I don’t even remember how I got to Rhett’s place last night, so I’m grateful to spot the elevator right away. And when his door slams open behind me, his voice trailing after me again, I’m even more grateful when the elevator doors part immediately.
“Cub—”
I don’t even look. I just smash the button to close the doors.
Only when I’m officially riding down the nineteen floors to the bottom do I finally take a breath and lean my head back against the wall. I start to wonder whether it’s just a coincidence that Rhett lives on the same floor as his hockey number or if he’s really that obnoxious, when my phone starts ringing in my hand.
Startled, I glance down. It’s Addie.
“Hello?”
“It’s off—Morn—Now—Tell me wh?—”
“Addie, hold on. I’m in an elevator. Terrible service. Just give me…” I glance up at the floor indicator. “Twelve more floors.”
“Okay, it’s tomorrow. Where is my update about last night?” she asks as I step off the elevator. “And—wait, what building are you in that has twelve more floors?”
I’m looking around the massive, echoing lobby, trying to figure out where to go while also cobbling together a semi-coherent lie. “I… uh… I—it doesn’t matter.”
“Um, okay,” Addie says. After a long pause: “Why do you sound so suspicious?”
“I don’t,” I snap, weaving past my third marble pillar before finally spotting a break in the towering glass walls—a door, thank God.
“Caroline.”
“Addison.”
“Is something going on?” she asks.
“No,” I insist, just as I miss my exit from the revolving doorand am forced to make another full lap. “It’s just—” I gasp when I look up and find someone directly across from me in the rotation. “Rhett!”
“Rhett?” Addie echoes in my ear. “Um, what?”
“Leave me alone,” I mouth to him before shoving out of the door and onto the street. The second I hit the sidewalk, the sunlight blinds me. The building’s tinted glass must’ve hidden it all—now I’m squinting and wincing like a vampire at dawn.
Even through the glare, I can still hear Addie. “What about Rhett, Caroline?”
“Nothing!” I exclaim, bringing the phone back to my ear as I spin around, trying to get my bearings. “Absolutely nothing?—”
And then I run straight into Rhett.
My clothes and phone go flying.
“Oh my God, Rhett,” I snap. “What are you doing?”
