Page 12 of When Forever Stays

“Long time, no see.”

I try hard to bite back a snippy remark, but, “Well I figured reaching out to my now-engaged ex wouldn’t be the wisest idea” slips through.

Mitch at least has the decency to look uncomfortable as he rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah,” he grunts.

I look around at everything but him, unsure where to take this awkward conversation. When I look up at the sky, waiting for Mitch to explain why he’s outside the hospital so late he says, “Two late shifts this week."

“I see,” I reply, taking a step backward.

He was the stereotypical bachelor doctor, living in a huge, sterile home. He wore expensive suits and cologne and he took me to the fanciest restaurants. We had fun together, and there was a spark, but no chemistry. His words, not mine.

There’s a rustling behind me, and Mitch’s gaze shifts to my car. His blond eyebrows practically touch his hairline. “You found yourselfanotherbachelor?”

It’s clearly a dig at my disaster of a dating life.

Rhett steps out of the car with obvious difficulty and limps over to me, putting an arm around my shoulder. “Everything okay, sweetheart?”

My heart warms to a volcanic measure as I stare up at him. “Y-yeah.”

Rhett looks Mitch up and down, then looks back to me. The possessiveness I find in Rhett’s eyes sends a shiver of delight down my spine.

Rhett leans down and whispers in my ear, loud enough for Mitch to hear, “I think it’s time I get you all to myself.” Then he slides his hand down my side and rests it on my hip. My pulse skyrockets and I forget about my disdain for both men. Actually, I forget Mitch even exists for a moment when Rhett presses a tender kiss to my temple.

Mitch coughs and I’m reminded he’s still there. He looks shocked and maybe irritated as he glances between Rhett and me. Rhett didn’t introduce himself and barely acknowledged Mitch’s presence. Which is not something Mitch has ever taken lightly. He was always the center of attention when we were together. He wanted to be the most well-respected man in the room, and he usually was. This has to be a solid hit to his ego. I probably shouldn’t feel as good about it as I do.

“See you around,” I say, giving Mitch a small wave. Rhett removes his hand from my hip and takes my waving hand in his, lacing his fingers between mine. Then he raises my hand to his lips and presses a kiss to it, locking his eyes on mine. The warmth I see there has my heart skipping beats until I remind myself that this isn’t real. It’s an act to escape an uncomfortable encounter with an ex. I’m not surprised that Rhett stepped in or that our chemistry is still strong, but I have to remember that this is temporary. I have to remember what he did and how he hurt me, not how great it feels to be with him again.

Rhett slides back into his seat more smoothly than before. Once I’m in and settled, I can see the pained expression on his face.

“Thanks for stepping in back there.” I reach across the console and pat his fist that’s resting on his thigh. He flexes his hand and pulls each of my fingers between his. They’re the perfect fit.

“It’s the least I could do after all you’ve done for me.” He lifts my hand again and presses a kiss to the back. There’s not a hint of hesitation with his touch, and it leaves me reeling. I suspect he’s doing it to keep up our ruse, but when I look toward where Mitch was standing, he’s no longer there.

My throat tightens, and I cough to clear my airway. “How are you?” I remove my hand from Rhett’s to place it on the steering wheel. His skin against mine causes too much brain fog.

He answers without missing a beat. “It may be a bit before I can move without wincing, but my ribs are only bruised and not broken, so I’m thankful for that.”

“Me too.”

After buckling my belt, I turn up the heat. Amber Island is always warm during the days, but the nights during this time of year can be chilly. Standing in the cold air talking to Mitch has me shivering. I glance over and catch a glimpse of Rhett staring out the window. I use the opportunity to take him in, chiseled feature by chiseled feature.

Despite spending only God knows how long being tossed in the waves, his bruises and injuries are minimal, and he manages to still look more delicious than a freshly baked cinnamon roll. When he turns to face me and catches me in the act, he lifts an eyebrow. I expect one of his smirks, but he looks at me as if I hung the sun…or whatever the saying is, and it has my weak walls cracking again. My walls may as well be made of tissue paper with how easily he’s tearing them down.

I need to rebuild these walls with stone. I need to protect my already bruised and completely vulnerable heart. Seeing Mitch again and comparing him with Rhett—even in his current state—confirmed that the brief but intense relationship I had with Rhett ruined me for any other man. Sure, seeing that Mitch got engaged shortly after our breakup hurt, but it’s almost as if finding Rhett and being in his presence revealed how superficial things were with Mitch and my other two recent exes.

But that same feeling from earlier reminds me that this is my responsibility and not something I should try to pass off to someone else. It may go against propriety, but I know this is the right thing to do.

We’ve been shamelessly staring at each other for too long. I need to pass Rhett off to another member of my church, or good Samaritan, or anyone else before he can hurt me again. I blow out a puff of air and face forward, it’s time to get on the road.

“I can’t tell you how thankful I am that you’re doing all of this.” There’s something different about his voice—it’s deeper, hoarser. As if his voice is reflecting the same raw emotions I’ve been feeling.

I nod. “It’s what any decent human would do.”

“Well, I want you to know how much I appreciate it.” He clenches his jaw, almost as if he’s fighting the next words. “I know I hurt you, and yet you’re going out of your way to take care of me.” He’s quiet for a moment, but then asks, “Can you tell me what it is that I did?”

I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter.”

His expression turns more serious than I’ve ever seen it. “It does matter to you. I can see it in your eyes. And if it matters to you, it matters to me.”

---