Page 38 of Worth the Risk
“Well it turns out that he never got my messages that night. You remember Lacey? The girl that Colt had met?”
“Uhg, yes. Colt did not have a good thing to say about that one.”
“I’m thinking he was justified in that now, because she was the one that text me back that night.” Another gasp.
“No. No way. She didn’t.”
“Apparently, she did. Rhett read the messages on my phone this morning after I had a small meltdown over him calling meadorable…and it was pretty obvious that he hadn’t seen them before. He said he had no idea I was there that night and she had asked to use his phone.”
“I’m…well that changes things.”
“Yeah…it changes a few things…but not everything…”
“Oh, Winnie. I wish you could get out of your own head about this. I can tell you’re already thinking about the what if’s…” She knows me so well. I smile at that. It’s comforting if not a little annoying. I sigh. “Maybe just try to enjoy this? For me?”
“I promise to try. I want to, Mare. I want him.”
“I know you do. So maybe let yourself be happy for a minute before you bring any other emotion into it?”
“Okay, I will do my best.” She laughs.
“Oh, shoot. I’m being paged to the ER. Gotta go. Love you!”
“Love you, go save some lives or whatever.” She giggles while hanging up.
I’m feeling less anxious now. Mare’s right. I should just take this one step at a time, not jump to the ending that I’ve made up in my head. I check my timer and sit down in my office in the back to get my orders in for next week. I still need to go to the berry patch in Brighton. One of the special orders next week is four mixed berry pies and strawberry cookies for a birthday party. I’m going to need some help with getting all the berries that I’ll need. I can ask Anna and maybe she’ll bring some friends. My timer goes off and I mix in the strawberries and shape the loaves. They’ll need another 30 minutes prove after that, then bake for 45. That puts me leaving here at 6:15ish…hopefully Rhett’s busy until then. I’d like to change and clean up before seeing him and maybe brush my teeth, the thought has me feeling butterflies swarming in my stomach.
I get home only a little later than I wanted to. Rhett text me to say he was planning on being here at 8. Plenty of time to clean up before he gets here. When I walked by his house, the lights were on. It’s a little surreal that he will be living there now, sharing a fence with me. I spend a lot of time in my yard, so he’ll be seeing a lot of me when he’s home.
Hopefully that will be a welcome sight. I change out of my leggings and baggy shirt into jeans and a fitted t-shirt, deciding since we’re going to be at my house that I should be casual butnot in sweats…? Although why not sweats? It’s not like Rhett hasn’t seen me in them. Or a swimsuit. Or practically naked the other night, or actually naked so many years ago.Stop Winnie.Sometimes I can spot a spiral before it happens. Sometimes I can’t. Tonight I’m not going to spiral. We haven’t even talked about anything yet. When you’ve wanted something for so long, It’s hard to accept that you might be getting it. I hear a knock and take a breath before walking to the front door.
“Hey. Come in.”
“Hey.” He breaths out and sets the bags of food on the floor by our feet. He grins and then covers my body with his in a hug. He smells good. He kisses my temple.
“I’ve been waiting to do that all day.” I blush.
“How was moving? Did you get everything settled?” He nods.
“I did. We are officially neighbors. A quote in a different language?” His smile is so big. He looks so happy. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving and nope, that’s a good guess though.” it’s the truth. I only ate two croissants and a blueberry muffin today.
“You should have eaten the breakfast I made.” He winks.
“I should have. Instead I had a mini meltdown. It was really sweet of you to cook for me, though.” He chuckles and kisses my cheek.
“I’m not unhappy with how the morning turned out.” He picks up the bags and walks to my kitchen table.
“What did Knox make us?” I ask following him. Knox may be a lawyer but he’s the best cook of all the Holloways, besides Mary.
“He made us chicken gnocchi with pesto cream sauce, garlic knots, smoked brisket, mac n’ cheese, apple pie, and a blondie brownie with maple pecan sauce. I got some vanilla ice cream at the store.” I’m stunned.
“Those are all my favorite foods.”
“I know. I didn’t know what you would be in the mood for so I got us options.”
“You remembered all my favorites?”
