Page 21 of When You're Gone
“Hey.” Rhett knocked his knee against hers under the table. “Where’d you get that?” he asked through a mouthful of food, jutting his chin toward the Clinton’s mug she was cradling in her hands.
Her eyes went wide as he called her out. He knew damn well where she’d gotten this mug. He had helped her smuggle out an entire set of Clinton’s signature blue-with-white-speckled campfire mugs over the years. But her dad didn’t know that.
Rhett reached for his own matching mug, holding it just a few inches from his face to inspect it closer. “I wonder if I could order these somewhere…” he muttered. She kicked him under the table. Mike Hobbs, her boss, probably would have let her buy the mugs at cost, or hell, he’d probably have just given them to her if she asked. But she’d had a bit of a rebellious streak in high school inspired by some of Jake’s antics, as proven by her collection of stolen coffee cups.
“So, what are you kids up to this weekend? You said you had plans on Sunday, Everhett?”
Rhett smirked at her before turning to reply to her dad. “Yes, sir. Jake and I have a small get-together planned for tonight.”
She scoffed at his word choice—knowing Jake, there would be at least thirty people crammed into the sunroom and spilling out over the patio tonight for her birthday party.
“Then I’m taking the birthday girl shopping tomorrow.”
She eyed him inquisitively. This was the first she had heard about any shopping plans. She assumed he had something in mind for Sunday, her actual birthday, considering he wasn’t heading back to Virginia until early Monday morning.
“Well, I’m glad we were all able to sit down and have breakfast together this morning, then.” Her dad reached for his own coffee and took a long drag. His food was still sitting untouched on his plate.
“How are things going with Tricia, sir? I feel bad I haven’t had a chance to meet her yet. It feels like I’m always pressed for time when I’m in town.”
That was only partially true. Tori liked Tricia well enough, and she loved how happy her dad was when he was with her. There was just a lightness to him that she had almost forgotten existed.
But after her last surgery, her dad had awkwardly offered to ask Tricia to help her—but no. Just no. Recovering from major surgery wasn’t something she wanted to share with her dad’s girlfriend. Especially not when she considered that the whole reason behind the risk-reducing surgeries was to stave off the genetic cancers that had stolen her mom. It was too much to pull Tricia into the mix.
Her dad had respected her wishes and said he understood. But because she didn’t want his girlfriend hanging around as she recovered, and because she’d spent that time at Rhett’s house, there just hadn’t been a good opportunity for Rhett to meet her.
“Things are good—really good, in fact. That’s actually what I was hoping to talk to you about today, sweetheart.” He turned to face her, but didn’t meet her gaze. “Tricia and I have been talking a lot lately.”
Tori slowed her chewing as her body prickled with awareness.
“We’ve been talking about our relationship, about the future.”
She set her fork down and swallowed. Her dad still wasn’t meeting her gaze.
“You know your mother was it for me. I will never love anyone the way I worshipped that woman…”
She bit down on her lower lip, then startled when she felt Rhett’s hand slide over her knee.Shit. If he was getting the same vibe about where this conversation was heading…
“But I’m happy with Tricia, and I can see her being in my life for a long time. Maybe even forever.”
“That’s great, Dad. I’m happy for you,” she quickly interjected. She wasn’t interested in continuing the conversation beyond what he’d already shared. Maybe if she could just cut him off there, he wouldn’t feel the need to keep talking.
“I wanted to let you know that Tricia asked me—well, she suggested we move in together. And I told her I needed to talk to you before committing, but that’s what I want to do.”
Tori’s shoulders relaxed as she absorbed the news.
Her dad wanted to shack up with his girlfriend. It was sweet that he’d thought to ask her before he agreed to let Tricia move in. They spent almost every night together anyway, alternating between their house and Tricia’s condo down in Cascade Falls. It made sense for them to make it official.
She picked up her fork and used the side of it to slice into the syrup-drenched waffle on her plate.
“I think that’s a great idea, Dad.” She smiled at him encouragingly before taking a big bite.
“You do? I’m so happy to hear that. I was afraid you’d be upset about selling the house...”
Her fork clanked against the plate as she dropped it and started choking on the bite of food she’d just inhaled.
Selling the house?
Theirhouse?
