Page 49 of Unravel Me

“Well…” Pulling my baseball cap off to run my hand through my hair, I swallow against my throat but remain strong in how I feel. Because I’ve never been so sure. “You’re right. We said no to labels. And I’ll honor that if you still feel that way. But Audrey…I’d be lying if I told you I was okay with you being anyone else’s. You make me a selfish man…I want you for me.”

Her chest rose and fell as her wild eyes steadied on mine. She’s always analyzing, flipping things in her mind, assessing the risk. Surely, I'm a risk. A country boy from Roseville who hasn’t been to half the places she has, who doesn’t have a fancy degree, or house. No trust fund to keep her secure, just these two hands that would fight off anything that threatened her or her happiness. Just a tin roof on an old farmhouse that I’d work endlessly to make sure she felt at home at. But I'm getting ahead of myself. A woman like Audrey has a world of options, and I’m a drop of water in the tank of her life.

“There’s no one else but you.” Her response is slow and deliberate.

“So, I can introduce you to my family as my sexy, sweet, incredibly brilliant girlfriend?”

Audrey hesitates, but then nods, “That’s overkill, but girlfriend…sure.”

“Oh honey, I don’t think it’s enough,” I say, my voice rumbling in my chest as I step forward and push a loose piece of hair behind her ears, noticing her breathing quicken as I lightly run my hand down her jaw, cupping her neck, and pulling her close to me.

Our lips mere inches from each other; close enough I can see all the gold flecks in those hazel eyes.

“And so, this means I can introduce you as my rowdy, rough, handsome boyfriend?” she asks, her voice raspy. Her eyes go wide though, like she can’t believe she just said that aloud.

“You can tell people I'm whoever you want, as long as you know I'm yours.” I don’t let her get another word in, unable to hold back from kissing that perfect mouth.

Chapter twenty-nine

Audrey

Rhett’s hand never left mine as we drove to the fair. He cranked country music and sang along to every word, putting on a show for me as I laughed, watching him with a goofy smile plastered to my face. Rhett was so unapologetically himself. I was almost jealous.

Even after all his loss, he was still able to be a person that exuded sunshine, and it made falling for him that much easier. All my doubts, all my questions, all the sadness from my talk with Penny…they all disappeared when I showed up here today.

All I can think about now is that I get a whole weekend with him. And as his old truck rumbles to a stop in the field we are parking in, I gaze out the window, taking in the fair. The dusky sky is the backdrop to a Ferris wheel with twinkling lights, tall striped tents, and an array of people; both young and old, with smiles on their faces.

“You ready?” He smiles at me, and I nod, unbuckling myself. The last special date I was on was months ago, when Jackson chartered his father’s private jet to take us to his family’s mountain lodge. He worked the entire time on the airplane and didn’t even notice I had drastically changed my hair.

I still wonder what I saw in that.

Rhett jumps out of the truck, a sexy grin on his lips as he all but runs to open my door. We walked hand in hand towards the entrance. “I know you’re probably used to much nicer things, but I hope you at least have a little fun tonight.” He squeezes my hand.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, Rhett. I mean it.”

He nods at me, and I hope I can show him how true it is.

“It’s kind of a Roseville tradition to come to this fair. It doesn’t matter if you’re young, old, rich, poor, a farmer or an attorney, everyone shows up for this. That’s why I love it.”

Rhett’s eyes lit up, his lips pulling into a smirk, and I can’t contain my smile either.

“Well then, you’re taking my virginity. I’ve never been to a fair.”

Rhett’s boots stopped in his tracks, and he squares off with me. “You’re screwing with me. Never?”

Biting my lip, I shake my head.

“My parents would’ve never taken us. I spent every summer at camp or with an au pair.”

Rhett rubs his chest, his thoughts stirring in that clever head of his.

“Well, I’m honored to be your first.” He pulls me into his side.

Once inside the fairgrounds, the rest of the world was shut out. It was silly. I mean, I had traveled to some of the most exotic, beautiful places in the world with Jackson and with my parents. And even though I might’ve felt alone, or the trip wasn’t exactly how I wished it would go, I could appreciate it and be grateful for the experiences.

But something about being here tonight ignites a magic in me. As we walk through the crowds of people, kids in awe of everything around them, the aroma of carnival food, a tightness forms in my chest. I’m struck with a nostalgia for a memory I never had.

I’ve spent so many years clinging on to things I thought would make me happy. Or at the least, things I thought I should want to cling on to, like expensive weddings, and big houses, and jobs with impressive titles. But now, on this simple date, with a guy who looks at me like the stars that shine above, I wonder what it would be like to let go of all those things. The things I once thought made me me.