Page 31 of Unravel Me

Instantly, my throat grows tight, and my patience wears thin. I hear movement from the backyard but can’t see a damn thing. I have no more time to contemplate what to do next, though, because a blur of reddish-brown fur comes barreling around the corner of the house straight towards me.

The dog matches the photo Rhett showed me earlier today, when I thought Mabel was his girlfriend. As I stand from the swing to greet the infamous Miss Mabel, Rhett’s husky voice sounds from the side of the house.

“Dammit, Mabel!”

“Hi there, pretty girl,” I cooed, squatting down to pet the bloodhound who was demanding my full attention. She is big but was still a puppy with giant paws, and even larger ears.

Rhett comes jogging towards me with his shirt unbuttoned down to the middle of his chest. Oh, my god, Penny is right. This is a booty call and I’m just so damn naive. I wrap my arms around me, even though Mabel is still nudging my legs with her wet nose.

“Sorry ‘bout that. Like I said, she’s got no manners. Or knows how to sit and stay.” Rhett whistles for Mabel, who pays him no mind.

“Who needs manners when you’re this cute?” Mabel leans on me, her droopy eyes making it impossible not to pet her more. I have a particular weakness for wrinkly dogs. Growing up, I begged my parents for an English bulldog, but that proved to be fruitless. Then I met Jackson, who disliked dogs, claiming it was because he was allergic. But there had never been proof of that, either.

“Everything's set up, you ready?” Rhett gestures toward the backyard, pausing to let me catch up before falling into step beside me. Parts of his property were in rough shape, but there was a rustic beauty to it. The house was small, the white paint peeling in some spots, and the bare garden beds desperately needed some love, but I loved the honesty of it all. Unlike my polished apartment, this place felt like a home.

The wind blew my navy skirt up around my knees and Mabel trotted noisily beside me, claiming me as her new best friend, with Rhett on the other side of me. I glanced at his biceps, straining against his shirt, and thought about what Penny said.

I couldn’t be sure anymore if this was a ‘friend date’.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t.

But as fast as the thought came into my head, it left.

Because I couldn’t belong here. In four months, I’d be leaving this state for good.

My mouth parts with pure surprise as we round the corner, and the backyard comes into view. We walk right into what looks like an outdoor theater, complete with twinkle lights and dinner. Our food was arranged on a coffee table in front of a U-shaped outdoor sofa. It was nicer than I was expecting, and I didn’t know what to say.

“Welcome to my backwoods movie theater.” Rhett winks, dropping onto the outdoor sofa, his arms stretched over the back. I sat down next to him, my ankles neatly crossed and tucked close. “Thanks for suggesting we leave the restaurant.” I puff out my cheeks and release a quiet chuckle. “I think I like this better.”

In all my time with Jackson, he’d never set up anything like this. He bought me expensive gifts and took me on vacations his assistant planned. He didn’t think on the spot or do romantic dates.

This was different.

Mabel’s nose twitches in the air as she squeezes between Rhett and my legs. I pop a piece of sushi in my mouth, moaning at how good it tastes right now.

“I get one more question, then we can discuss what we’ll watch,” he says, and I laugh, averting my eyes away from him. Something about the way he looks at me makes me feel like I’m wearing my heart on the outside of my skin. Like I can’t hide anything.

“Okay, but I’m not very interesting. You’re going to be disappointed,” I said but he just shrugged a bit.

“I don’t believe that one bit.” Rhett leans in, his elbows on his knees, flexing his muscular arms.

“Okay…ask away.”

“Tell me something about yourself that might surprise me.”

I ponder it for a minute, scratching Mabel’s ears as I do.

“Okay, fine…but you can’t make fun of me.”

“Promise.” He smirked.

“One of my absolute favorite things to do is bake.” I pause, waiting for backlash but it doesn’t come. “I used to bake when I was stressed. I am actually really good.”

“Wait, I’m confused.” He scrubs his jaw. “Who the hell would make fun of something like that?”

“Because it’s cliche, it’s pedestrian.”

Rhett shakes his head vigorously. “Well, you’re wrong. Baking takes skill, and it makes you happy. Ain't nothing cliche or dumb about that.”