Page 212 of The Fine Line
“You still haven’t—” He breaks off, lowering his voice. “You still haven’t started?”
I swallow hard and shake my head, my whole body shaky now.
“Come on,” he says gently, taking my hand without another word.
I stay silent the entire way—to the pharmacy, through checkout, up the elevator to my apartment. I’m still silent when I’m sitting on the bathroom counter, knees brushing against his chest, the little white test clutched in my fingers. Rhett stands between my legs, hands resting on my thighs, steady and quiet.
I can’t look at it.
“Cub?” he murmurs. “It’s time.”
I close my eyes. When I open them, the second line is there. Clear as day.
Positive.
“Oh my God,” I whisper.
He stares at it, then at me. His eyes don’t leave mine for a long moment. And then he exhales, his forehead pressing lightly to mine as his hands come up to cradle my face.
“Hey,” he murmurs softly, his thumbs brushing my skin. “Hey. Look at me.”
I do. Barely breathing.
“I’m done after this season,” he says, his voice quiet, even. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Thirty-five. Plenty of guys retire around then.”
I blink, startled. “Rhett?—”
He cuts me off gently. “I’ve had my time. My glory years. More money than I could ever need. I’ve lived the dream. Now I want to live a new one.” He swallows, brushing his nose against mine. “With you. With this.” His hands slide down to rest over mine, still clutching the test. “Let me try to be the dad I never had. I want this. I want you. But only if you want it too.”
Tears sting my eyes. “You’d follow me?”
He smiles faintly. “Baby, I’ve been following you from the minute I met you. And I’ll follow you anywhere.”
I laugh through the tears. “That’s not what I meant.”
He shakes his head, the faintest gleam of mischief in his eyes. “I’ll be on dad duty. I’ll follow you to every city if you’ll let me. Long-distance when we have to. Close-distance when we can. I want it all. With you.”
I swallow, my heart thudding against my ribs. “I want it too.”
We sit there for a moment, the weight of everything—everything we’ve survived—sinking in.
And then I smile through the haze of shock. And when he kisses me—slow and soft and deep—I know it, without question.
We’re going to be just fine.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
before
RHETT
Three Years Earlier
Austin, TX, USA
By the time I finally get her out of the Randall’s Tavern parking lot and back to my apartment, Caroline is more giggles than words, leaning most of her weight into me as I unlock the door and guide her inside.
“Easy,” I murmur, catching her elbow before she stumbles.
