Page 54 of The Fine Line
She grins. “Then what are you doing out here? Getting bored of us already?”
“Not all of you.”
Her lips part, maybe to tease—but I cut her off.
“Want to come home with me?”
thirteen
RHETT
Austin, TX, USA
"You needed a new home.”
Swallow.
"I said you belonged here."
Heart sinks.
“Trust yourself.”
Blur of white.
“What if I fuck it all up?”
Rubber hitting glass.
“What if…they see me?”
My nails dig into my skin.
“What is there to see?”
“Can you hear me?”
My head thuds against the window as it slips from my hand, jerking me awake.
“Fuck,” I groan, rubbing my temple.
“Can youhear me now?”
I shake my head, blinking hard until the world sharpens into focus. Until I remember where I am. Still here.
And why.
My eyes find her instantly—stumbling out of Randall’s Tavern, the door slamming behind her as she continues rambling into her phone.
“Yeah, I’m here! I’m sooo here... What?... Oh, that. Right. I can’t talk right now, actually... No, I’m really busy. So many st—stats to review. Huh?... No! It was nothing. Absolutely nothing. I’ll call you tomorrow... Yes, promise. Pinky promise. Cross my heart and hope to die. Like, for real—what? Wait, Addie? Hello?”
She frowns at the phone, squinting at the screen. “Crap.”
Running a hand through her hair, Caroline sighs, spins—very wobbly—on her heel, and moves to head back inside. But her phone slips through her fingers, clattering to the pavement.
She lets out a dramatic groan and squats down awkwardly, groping around blindly in the dark.
I push open the door of my Range Rover and walk over.
