Page 32 of When You're Home
“Fine, but I call dibs on all major holidays,” she joked, opening the shirt to inspect the design.
“I’m gonna go find the bathroom,” he said, brushing his hand along her hip as he moved past her.Damn,those leggingslookedso hot on her ass.“I’ll be quick, but you should start eating,” he suggested, checking the time on his phone.
Rhett kept his phone out as he made his way through the crowd. Somehow the line for the men’s bathroom was longer than the women’s line. He played with his phone as he waited. He realized he should check in with Chandler before the concert started, so he shot off a text.
Rhett: Hey Babe, I made it to Michigan. Just wanted to tell you goodnight now in case reception is spotty at the cabin. Tell your parents hi for me.
Instead of repocketing his phone, he sent off another text, this one to his sister.
Rhett:Have fun tomorrow, Maddie Girl!! You’ve got this.
He couldn't help but smile as he thought about how stoked his little sister had been when she called him earlier in the week to tell him she was named lacrosse team captain. He made a mental note to get her game schedule in his calendar so he could catch a few of her home games.
Rhett’s phone vibrated in his hand as their replies came in.
Chandler: Have a great time. Tell your family I said hi, too!! Miss you already and can’t wait to see you.
She signed her text with two hearts.
Maddie: Thanks, Bro! Team pics tomorrow then I’m having the girls over to the house for some hottubbin’ and sunroom fun.
She punctuated her response with champagne and beer emojis. He rolled his eyes but resisted lecturing her via text. Maddie was eighteen, and she was going to do what eighteen-year-olds do when they want to impress their friends. It’s not like he had set the greatest example when he was her age.
Rhett: Just be safe, Maddie. Love you.
Fifteen minutes had passed by the time he finally made it through the restroom line and back to Tori.
“You were gone for SO. LONG!” she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck as soon as he was within reach. Rhett glanced down at the table and noticed that she had eaten half of everything he ordered. He went to move the tallboy away from the edge of the table and noted that it was already half gone, too.
“Do you want another one of these before we go in?” he asked, lifting the can a few inches off the table. He kept his tone neutral, afraid to scare her off with any implied judgement.
“I’m not gonna get drunk at a concert, Everhett.” He didn’t miss the use of his full name, but he also didn’t tease her that she already seemed well on her way.
“Of course you’re not,” he appeased her. “But this weekend is your birthday present, and I want you to have the best time possible. I’ve got you if you want another.”
“Okay, okay, fine,” she relented with a slight eye roll. She responded as if he had been trying to convince her for hours.
“Let me just eat this real quick.” Rhett set to work downing the room-temperature wings and hardened pretzel. It didn’t matter that the food was cold and subpar—he hadn’t eaten since that morning, and he was starving. He polished off the makeshift dinner in less than five minutes, collected all their trash, then grabbed their water bottles before taking Tori’s hand.
He expertly guided her through the crowd, refusing to drop her hand now that she had at least sixteen ounces of beer in her. Thankfully most everyone had already headed to their seats. There was only one person in front of them at the concessions booth.
“Two Blue Moons, please,” he ordered, inserting his card again, grabbing the cans, and pivoting. “Come on, beautiful,” he directed Tori, looking for the Door C Reserved Seating entrance per their tickets.
Rhett had studied the Reserved Seating section for a week before tickets went on sale. He had keyed in on a small section of seating on a V-shaped riser to the left of the stage. He was able to snag the two seats closest to the rail, and because of the unique shape of the section, there was no one else in front of them.
“Stop,” Tori gushed when Rhett led her all the way to the front row. They weren’t floor seats, but they were honestly better, because no one could stand up in front of them in this section.
“Good seats?” he asked, grinning.
“You shut your face right now, Everhett Wheeler!” she squealed. “Good seats? These are fantastic!! You are fantastic. I’m so excited I could rip your clothes off your body right here.”
“I really want to see this show, but I’ll take you up on that as soon as we get to the cabin later,” he promised as they stepped out of the aisle and into their two-person row.
He glanced around the venue, taking in the electric buzz around him, feeling the energy of the crowd in his bones. The stage set consisted of a black velvet backdrop with stars cut out and illuminated with bright spotlights. The entire venue was cast in shadow with the house lights already dimmed. Anticipation started to build in Rhett’s body. For the show. For the weekend. For her.
Tori leaned back against the railing instead of sitting down right away. She tipped the can of beer all the way up, indicating the first tallboy was a goner. She cast her eyes down at Rhett, winked, and tossed him the empty can.
He loved her like this, playful and carefree. Seeing Tori enjoying herself—not working, not stressing about money, not hyper-focused on her school work—just seeing her let loose and have fun was the most satisfying rush.
