Page 46 of Cedarwood Manny

“Do you love him?”

He did, but what would Rhett do if Nathan told him the truth? “Do you love me? Like,reallylove me? I don’t think you do.”

“Nathan.” Rhett frowned and curled into himself. “I do.”

“You only love me because you can’t have me. When we were a couple, you cheated on me. Everyone else mattered besides me.”

Rhett half-shrugged. “I learned who I need.”

“Did you?” He doubted Rhett.

“What are you so full of questions?”

“Because I’m worried about you.”

“You are?” Rhett brightened.

“Yes. You and I were horrible as boyfriends, but we’re good as friends. I care about you as my friend.” He returned to the chair. “I want you in my life—just not in my bed.”

“You’ll take me back?” Rhett asked.

“No.”

Rhett groaned.

He needed to be honest with his friend and himself. He couldn’t lead Rhett on. “I never set out to date my boss. It’s a job. But I met Adrien before I interviewed to work for him. We hit it off, then I landed at his home as the manny. We fought the pull until it overwhelmed us. That’s the kind of love I want. It’s what we all deserve.”

“But not with me.”

“You can live without me. You’ve done it,” Nathan said. “I can’t live without him. I’m in love with Adrien and crazy about his son.” He tilted his head. “Does that make sense?”

“It does.”

“I want you around because you make me laugh and know about things I don’t—like fashion and music. You keep up on the celebrity gossip and have great stories. I miss hearing those and I want to be friends, but I don’t want to be with you.”

“I went over the top, didn’t I?” Rhett’s demeanor changed. He crinkled his nose, then rubbed beneath his eyes. The circles smudged. “Okay.”

Nathan sagged in his seat. “You bullshitted me,” he blurted. “You weren’t on the edge or contemplating something worse. You just wanted me to come over.”

“Duh.” Rhett rolled his eyes. “I had to give us one more shot. If you came running and begged me to give you another try, then we’d go ‘round again. Well, you came over, but you don’t need me.”

“I’m not thrilled that you did this.” Pissed was more like it. “You fucking lied.”

“I did it to prove to myself we were over.” Rhett stood. He opened the rest of the curtains and shut off the television. He finger-combed his hair into place. “I’m sorry.”

Nathan scrubbed his hands over his mouth. “You’re sorry?”

“You have to give me credit for ingenuity.” Rhett smoothed his shirt. “I wanted to start seeing Justin anyway.”

His irritation grew. “You had another man in mind, but you were dicking with me? What’s wrong with you?” He shook his head. “Do it. Date him.”

Rhett scooted forward in his seat. “What’s it like to be in love? Real, actual love?”

“How do I know?” He loved Adrien, but how was he supposed to describe it? Things had happened so fast. Maybe it wasn’t deep love. Just…lust. But he couldn’t live without Adrien. “I don’t know.”

“You’re in love with the dentist. You said. It.” Rhett crooked his eyebrows and the gleam returned to his eyes. “You love him so much you’re afraid to accept it, even if you did say the words.”

“It’s scary.” He couldn’t believe he was having this conversation with Rhett. “I can see my future with him, but I’m worried things won’t last. I feel right when I’m with him and I belong, but I don’t want to lose it.”

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