Page 47 of Beneath The Truth
“What do you want to do?I mean, after you find out what happened with your dad.Do you want to join the police force again, or keep doingPIwork?”
Rhett got quiet and his hand stilled before closing around his fork.I could have kicked myself for the abrupt question and the change in mood itcaused.
“Haven’t thought about it.Taking it one day atatime.”
The concept was foreign to me because I planned by weeks, months, quarters, and years.I had a five-year plan and accompanying goals, along with a ten-yearplan.
When I didn’t respond, he added, “I’m just a guy trying to make a living after the rug got pulled out from under him.I don’t have grand plans of building an empire likeyoudo.”
I tried to put myself in his shoes and imagine what it would have been like.For as long as I’d known Rhett Hennessy, which was all my life, he’d wanted to be a cop.Nothing more.Nothing less.That was his identity, and he’d lost it all in an instant.How did someone recover from that and forge anewlife?
I thought about the company I’d built and how many directions it had taken.If it were all gone tomorrow, I’d be completely adrift.I had to have purpose in my life, and Rhett wasthesame.
That was when it dawned on me—all these years, I’d kept Rhett Hennessy on a pedestal, untouchable and unattainable.And now, he wasrealto me.He was a man, flesh and blood with hopes and fears, victories and disappointments.The shift in perspective was groundbreaking and rocked my world.This Rhett, therealRhett, was better than I’dimagined.
I was self-aware enough to know that this was huge.And what’s more, I had something I could offer him—a willing ear to listen and a creative mind to help him figure out what he coulddonext.
24
Rhett
Idug into my oysters,wishing I had all the answers.Or hell, at least something that would make me sound like less of a loser when it came to my plans.Ari was smart, successful, and knew exactly what she was doing with herfuture.
“If you could do anything, no limits, what wouldyoudo?”
The question was so completely Ari, it was almost predictable.Even so, it took me off guard.I had no frigging clue what I wanted to do next, and that ate at me.I lowered my fork and thought for aminute.
I was taking this daybyday.
“Right now, I want one thing—answers.I need to know the truth about what happened with my father, and I’m not going to let it go until I figureitout.”
Ari nodded sagely, obviously no longer a girl in awe of every word coming out of my mouth.She was the one who had it all together and I was the mess, but there was no judgment on her face.She was unapologetic about knowing what she wanted, methodical and driven in going about achieving it.I’d never realized before how sexy that could be or how much Ienviedit.
“When you find those answers, will they affect what your futurelookslike?”
Another logical question I hadn’t taken the time to consider before.I bought myself time to think by taking a bite of my dinner and she did the same, although I could tell she was eagerly awaiting myresponse.
Would the truth about my dad affect my next steps?If it came out that he was framed and was exonerated, would I want to rejoin theforce?
I had my answer before I even finished chewing.I’d never go back to the department.Something in me had changed irrevocably.I couldn’t carry a badge anymore, because it didn’t stand for what I thought it did before.And if I couldn’t believe in it, I didn’tdeserveone.
“I’m done beingacop.”
“I wondered.I can’t say I’m completely surprised either.It would be hard to go back now.I couldn’t imagine going to work for anyone else now that I’ve been working for myself forsolong.”
When she said that, it occurred to me that she understood something that I hadn’t consciously realized yet.I’d gotten a taste of freedom, and I didn’t have the patience for department politicsanymore.
“How did you know I’d feellikethat?”
Ari finished chewing a bite and swallowed.“You’re a leader, Rhett, not a foot soldier.I can only imagine that you’d be happier with completeautonomy.”
Her insight hit me like a round to a bulletproof vest, slamming into me with shatteringforce.
I never thought I’d be this glad to be off the pedestal Ari had put me on becauseshe saw me clearly.Maybe even more clearly than I sawmyself.
I grinned at her in awe.“You’reright.”
One side of her mouth tilted up in a quirky smile.“Don’t sound so surprised.I am a genius.”She winked, and it broke a laugh free from mychest.
