Rhett
“She’s here.” I held the phone to my ear and listened to Maddison’s hushed whispers. “Raven’s on the night shift, and I just wanted you to know she’s here at my place and she’s safe.”
I stood in front of our window as I stared out at the lake in the distance. It would always be ours, no matter what, because AJ and I had shared so much over the last seven months in this very space. Hell, it was she who made this space mean so much to me because she loved it so much.
“I don’t want Harley,” I confessed, feeling that familiar burn return in my chest. “I know a part of me will always love her, but only because she was my first love, my first of a lot of things. I used to think that what I felt for her was it, it was that big epic love that I’ve seen with my dad and my mom, hell, with Gavin and Maria and even your mom and Uncle Colt.”
Maddison didn’t say anything in return, only listened.
“I still remember that day in the shop when you told me that if I wasn’t sure about AJ I should just walk away. I’ll admit that at that moment I considered it, because I didn’t know. But then I thought what would one date hurt?” I chuckled as I thought about what that one date had done to me. “That one night with AJ changed everything, Mad. She knocked me on my damned ass. Every time that girl smiles, I feel lost in my own fucking happiness. It was that night that made me realize Harley wasn’t that one epic love. She was the girl who showed me how to love, but she wasn’t my everything. AJ is all I want.”
“I know,” she finally responded, and hearing her accept what I had to say without trying to convince me otherwise was exactly what I needed. “Just give her tonight, and then tomorrow you tell her all the things you just told me, and you fight for what you want. Don’t give her the opportunity to deny what you feel. Make her understand, force her to see it.”
“Did she tell you about the other thing?” The not knowing was eating me up. “About the test?”
“Yeah.”
“And?”
“That’s between you two.” I understood what she was saying, but it didn’t change the fact that I was hoping she’d tell me the results. “Try to get some sleep, okay.”
“’Kay.” I knew I wouldn’t; my mind was racing off in too many different directions. “Thanks for calling, Mad.”
“We’re family, Rhett, and though I love AJ, I love you too. I needed you to know she was here and that I’d watch over her. Until she’s back with you where she belongs, I’ll be here for her.”
“Have I ever told you how amazing you are?” I smiled when she laughed.
“All you boys think I’m the greatest,” she said, and I could almost visualize her smile. “But it’s nice to hear it laid out too.”
“Goodnight, Maddison.”
“’Night, Rhett,” she said in return.
I hung up the phone and grabbed the bag off the counter that held all the things I should have thrown out long ago. I walked downstairs and to the wood-burning stove in the corner, lighting the paper wadded in the bottom. Pulling up a chair, I watched the flame ignite and slowly begin to burn.
“What are you doing?” Grace asked as she stepped up to my side, only I didn’t look away from the flame.
“Just got a few things to burn.”
“I’m so sorry.” It was then that I looked up to find her eyes reddened with signs that she’d been crying. “I didn’t know that she didn’t know. I never would’ve said anything if I’d known. I just wanted her to hear from someone else that was on the outside looking in that you loved her.”
“Hey.” I reached out and tugged her closer, forcing her to sit on the chair at my side. “This isn’t your fault, Grace. I should’ve told her that first night, so this all lies on me. Plus, I’m the one that held onto all this shit when I should have just gotten rid of it.”
“Why did you keep all the stuff she’s been sending?”
I weighed over her question, asking myself all the things I should. And then I was truthful with my answer because I knew my sister would understand. She was young, but the girl was smart, the least dramatic girl I’d ever been around. “It wasn’t ever because I was pining after the girl that left. It was never me trying to hold on to my love for her. Part of me will always have a special spot for Harley because we shared so much. But that time is over. That part of my life ended when she moved away. What I feel for AJ, it outweighs everything I ever thought I’d felt for Harley.”
“But that doesn’t explain why you kept all this stuff.” She reached out and pointed toward the bag in my hand.
“I can’t honestly pinpoint a specific reason as to why I kept them. At first, I think it was because I felt bad for throwing them out. Because that part of my life did exist, Grace. Harley and I were together. We shared those memories, we were an us. So, I just tucked them away in my drawer, and each time something new came, I just added to the envelope. I never went back to look through them or fantasized about my life being how it was back then. I forgot this shit was even there because AJ helped me forget. She managed to take every memory I’ve held, every moment I shared with Harley, and erase it without even trying. Being with AJ has been the best part of my life. Everything about her is amazing, and now I’m scared shitless that I’ve lost her.”
I gripped the bag in my hand, and without a second thought I leaned in and tossed the entire contents into the awaiting fire.
“I don’t wanna live in the past. I wanna build a future with AJ.”
“Then make sure she sees that.”
“I don’t know how,” I confessed as I watched the fire slowly burn through the plastic bag, catching on to the papers inside.
“I don’t believe that,” Grace said as she leaned back in the chair at my side and crossed her arms over her chest. “I know that I give you a hard time a lot and that I pretend you annoy me, but that’s my job. I’m the annoying little sister that was placed on this earth to give you headaches.” I smile, shaking my head and looking back to the fire. “You’re a great guy, Rhett. You’re not the kind that plays with a girl’s emotions. I’ve seen firsthand the way you are with AJ, how careful you are with her no matter what’s going on. You’re so meticulous with everything, making sure that the apartment was exactly how she envisioned it, even though you’re the one living there. Or how I’ve caught you watching her when you don’t think anyone is looking, almost like you’re lost in some kind of trance that only she seems to release.”
I closed my eyes, feeling raw from the way Grace seemed to pick up on all these little gestures.
“We’ve grown up watching Dad with Mom, how he treats her like she’s so delicate, though we know she can be a handful at times. He’s so careful with everything he does, like she hung his moon.”
“And his stars,” I added, because they did share an epic love.
“Yeah,” Grace agreed without a moment of hesitation. “The way you are with AJ, it reminds me so much of them.” I looked over at her to find her watching me closely. “I used to say I hoped one day I’d find the kind of love Mom and Dad share, and now I can say that about you too, Rhett. It’ll all work out. I just know it.”
“I hope you’re right.” I wanted to say more, tell her about the test, yet I wasn’t even sure the results. At that point, my dad was the only one to know, other than Maddison.
“I’m gonna head to bed,” Grace said as she stood up and leaned over to offer me a hug. “If you love her as much as I think you do, then she’ll have no choice but to come back to you.”
“That or there’s always kidnapping.”
Grace laughed as she stood tall once more. “I’ll be an accessory to that crime in a second. You just name the time and place, and I’m there.” I looked up as she took a step back. “Good night, Rhett.”
“’Night.” I forced a smile as she walked away.