Page 6 of The Long Way Home
He pauses, turns and looks at me. Suddenly, the air I was about to release from my lungs is trapped in my throat.
“AndSunny,” he adds.
The sound of that name,my name, on his lips is a hit to the chest. My grip tightens around the glass. One stupid, silly, meaningless nickname and I’m twenty-two again, flushed and breathless in his passenger seat, wanting something I never had the courage to ask for. That name used to make me feel like I belonged to him, like he noticed something special in me that no one else did.
Now it feels like a ghost slipping its fingers around my ribs and giving them a tug.
I try to form words, something light or cutting. I’ll settle for anything coherent at this point. But all that escapes is a thin, useless sound.
“Hmm.”
He doesn’t flinch. If anything, his mouth quirks in a faint, knowing smile.
“Save me a dance.”
Then he walks away, completely unaware he just set every nerve in my body alight. I turn back to my drink and knock it back in one shot. The cold burns, forcing me to remember I’m still me.
I smooth my hand down the front of my dress, fingertips skimming over the fabric. I’m still here, still in control.
If Rhett Hayes wants a dance, he can damn well work for it.
Chapter Two
RHETT
“Ican’t believe your ass isn’t out there on that dance floor,” Slone’s raspy voice cuts through the hum of chatter as she smacks my shoulder.
“Hilarious.” I offer a half-smile, letting the corner of my mouth twitch. “Why aren’t you out there?”
“Touche.” She slides next to me, her almost-empty drink swinging lightly in her hand. “Are you all moved in yet?”
“God, no. Who knew moving was such a pain in the ass? I’m actually forcing your brother to help me finish it up.”
“Thank you for not asking me,” she quips.
“Honestly, I figured you’d be back in Charleston by then.”
Before she can reply, a blonde man walks up, sliding a beer onto the bar behind us. “Just the woman I’ve been looking for all night.”
“How cute,” Slone shoots back. “You’re spending all your time thinking about me. I’m flattered.”
“Put me out of my misery, Slone. One dance. Please?” His grin is practiced, but she humors him anyway.
“Only because you asked nicely.” She turns back to me and says, “I guess at least one of us has to dance tonight.”
“Better you than me,” I reply, leaning back, watching her saunter toward the dance floor.
They vanish into the crowd, and just like that, my gaze finds Rachel again. I shouldn’t be surprised. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t scan a room and search for her.
Her dark brown hair falls loose around her shoulders, refusing to be tamed. She stands near the edge of the dance floor, laughing at something Margo says. Her head is tipped back just enough to expose the long line of her throat. Her brown eyes catch the light when she laughs, making them look like they’re sparkling. I can’t even remember the last time I saw her in person.
If you had told me that five years ago, I would have called you a liar. Back then, the longest I ever went without seeing her was eleven days. It was the stretch of time when she and Josh went to Rome on a family vacation. I remember counting them. I remember thinking eleven days felt excessive. Unreasonable.
Now it feels like a lifetime fits between blinks.
The butter-yellow bridesmaid dress she is wearing shouldn’t be allowed. It fits her like the fabric surrendered, molding itself to every line of her. The universe can be cruel, and that dress is my prime example. It’s like the color was chosen just to remind me she has always been sunlight, and I have always been standing too far away to touch it.
I tell myself to look away, to give myself a second to recover, but my body ignores me. It always does when it comes to her.
