Page 23 of When You're Gone
“I like living in Hampton.”
“Okay. Well, we could house hunt around here. Or maybe we could check out the condos over by Jake? It would be nice to finally have a place that’s ours aside from the cabin.”
“I have no interest in house hunting or condo hunting or doing any sort of hunting anytime soon. Why would I want to move somewhere new without you?”
Rhett blew out a long breath. “And yet you’re not ready to talk about moving to Virginia…”
He sounded more thoughtful than annoyed, but she couldn’t help but feel agitated by that comment. She turned her head away from him, toward the window. Toward the view she had stared at for the last twenty years, toward the broken spot in the fence that connected their backyards.
“I feel like I’m striking out right now, V. What can I do for you? Do you want space or comfort?”
“Space,” she answered without hesitation.
His eyes flared with the tiniest hint of rejection, but he quickly schooled his expression.
“So, are you leaving, or am I?”
She huffed out another breath, trying to figure out what—if anything—could possibly make her feel better right now. Wallowing in her room wouldn’t help. Neither would being around people. She was already going to have to put on a happy face for the party—she couldn’t bear the thought of acting like everything was okay at this exact moment.
“I’ll take Penny for a walk. Then maybe I’ll paint depending on what time I get back. I should probably apologize to my dad, too,” she relented. She needed a hell of a lot more time than one afternoon to come to terms with him selling her childhood home, but she still felt compelled to smooth things over with her dad as soon as possible. He was right—their paths crossed less and less these days, and she didn’t want him to worry or think she wasn’t going to help him pack.
Rhett nodded, then leaned down to kiss her. “I love you. And we’ll figure this out.” He slowly backed away from her, maintaining eye contact the entire time. “I’m going to see if I can convince Maddie to go on a run with me. But I’ll take my phone. Call me the second you want company, okay?”
“I will,” she promised, offering him a weak smile. It was all she could muster.
“Think about my offer. Either one, I guess. Either one stands.”
She cocked her head in question. She had already forgotten what he’d offered amongst the flurry of emotions raging inside her, vying for attention.
“I’ll buy you this house if you want it, V. We can get an apartment or a house in Holt or Hampton if you’d prefer. I’ll do literally anything to make you happy.”
She tried to smile again, but could barely lift and lower her head in a weak nod. She knew he would do anything to make her happy. She just didn’t know what to ask for anymore.
Chapter seven
Rhett
“Nowthisis a party.” Jake reclined where he sat, his arms spread wide across the back of the couch.
Rhett glanced around and took in the scene before him: Jake and Maddie had covered almost every surface of the sunroom with gold and black streamers and balloons, playing up the “classic” angle of Tori’s milestone birthday. People were scattered everywhere, laughing and playing beer pong.
Even more were gathered outside, milling around and waiting their turn for the ice luge Jake had insisted was necessary. The three-foot tall “25” sculpture was backlit with color-changing LED lights. Everyone wanted to try it, then they wanted pictures and videos taken during their turn. The whole thing had turned into an experience.
“I was a little worried about the number of people you invited, but I guess I didn’t expect so many of them to want to hang around outside,” Rhett admitted.
It was barely fifty degrees, and they had the hot tub turned on for anyone who wanted to use it, but everyone seemed content to hover around the ice luge, shooting the shit and drinking to stay warm. Jake had already made Rhett admit he was right about the ice sculpture twice that night.
“Psht,” Jake dismissed. “Did you really doubt me? I know what I’m doing.”
Rhett shook his head but didn’t bother arguing. The party may have been a bit over the top for his taste, but Tori’s eyes had lit up for the first time all day when she saw all the decorations and the ice luge. She needed some fun after that bombshell her dad had dropped at breakfast.
Jake pushed to his feet, then hesitated. “I was gonna go grab a beer, but if you…”
“Go,” Rhett insisted. “Thank you, though.”
Jake looked him up and down for all of two seconds before nodding.
He appreciated the way Jake and Tori always checked in before drinking in front of him, but he also needed them to take him at his word when he said he was okay. It was easier for him to stay rooted in his sobriety when he didn’t feel like he was adversely affecting anyone else’s choices.
