Page 49 of When You're Home
Rhett returned her glare, clearly agitated by her comment. They stood in silence, each one staring at the other in frustration, as Lia loaded the mugs onto a tray and walked out the door.
“We need to figure this out,” Rhett huffed as he grabbed her by the arm and started marching to the walk-in cooler. His grip was tight on her elbow as he pulled on the silver handle and stepped inside.
Tori recoiled at his handling. Did he really think he could pull shit like this? Did he think he could keep things from her, then just say sorry and make it all better?Screwthis. Tori refused to be complacent in her own steamrolling.
“What the hell is your problem, Wheeler?” she practically screamed. They both knew from experience that sound didn’t travel from the walk-in cooler, so she wasn’t worried about anyone overhearing them. “You talked to MaddieandChandler this morning while we were at the cabin and just forgot to mention it to me?!”
“Yes. But I didn’t realize it was a big deal! Maddie called me to tell me Chandler called her last night. She was freaking out because Chandler commented on her Instagram, then asked about you.” Rhett ran his hands through his hair as he tried to explain the overly complicated game of telephone.
The information sent her reeling. So a whole dramatic scene had occurred at some point that morning, and he didn’t even think to mention it to her. When would he get it through his thick head that keeping things from her was the same damn thing as lying? Chandler probably hadn’t even decided to come to Hampton until they got off the phone. If he had been upfront with Tori this morning, she would have suspected something was up, and they may have been able to stop Chandler from coming to Hampton altogether. This whole shitshow could have been avoided if he had just included her. But he didn’t. He chose to try to handle it on his own and box her out.
“What did Chandler say this morning? Don’t leave anything out,” she added. He owed her an explanation and an apology.
Rhett leaned forward into her space, looking down at her for a few breaths before responding. Each exhale transformed into a hazy little cloud between them as his breath hit the refrigerated air.
“It was early, V. She called me around seven a.m. She said she didn’t even expect me to answer… She was calling to leave me a voicemail. She asked if I was in Hampton or not. I told her I wasn’t. I didn’t tell her where I was. Just that I wasn’t in Hampton at the moment but that I’d be there later today. That was the extent of the conversation, I swear. Listen, Tori, don’t freak out. This is okay. I can figure this out,” he insisted, his eyes searching her face. She knew he was trying to gauge her reaction, but she wasn’t willing to give him the reassurance he wanted just yet.
“Why didn’t you tell her it was over when you talked to her this morning?” She kept her tone cool and clipped. Rhett always insisted Chandler was nothing more than a distraction, so it shouldn’t have been hard to break up with her as soon as her call came through.
“Tori.”
He said her name the way her dad would say it when she was little and she had just done something she knew better than to do.
Wrong move, Wheeler. She was not going to be scolded when he was the one who had messed up.
“Don’t ‘Tori’ me, Rhett. Like I’m a child. Like it’s outrageous to think that after years of you begging me to be with you, and me finally agreeing, that you would actually break things off with your other girlfriend! I didn’t realize I needed to make that apparent to you last night!!” She was full-out yelling at this point. She wondered if she was loud enough that maybe someonecouldhear them in here. She inhaled the frigid air through her nose to try and calm her nerves.
“It’s not that simple, V,” Rhett tried again. “I was so unsure about everything this morning—about Maddie’s call and about what Chandler knew and didn’t know—I wasn’t thinking clearly. I thought about breaking up with her this morning, but the call was so short, and then I felt like I owed her a proper break up.”
“So are you saying you’re unsure about us?” she pushed harder.
She spoke the words before she thought them through. She felt so small and pathetic when she heard the doubt in her own voice. She didn’t even know where that question came from. But now that she said it, she needed to hear the answer.
Pain and annoyance flashed in Rhett’s eyes. She knew she was being immature, but she couldn’t stop the insecure word vomit from coming out of her mouth.
“Tori, stop. Please don’t do this right now.” He lifted his hand to his neck, massaging the back of his shoulder as he closed his eyes. “I’m not unsure about us. I’ve never been unsure about us. Don’t try to piss me off and push me away. Look, I know I messed this one up. I’m sorry. Let’s just get through the afternoon and the party tonight…”
“The party?!” Tori interrupted him in disbelief. “You’re still having a party?”
“I don’t think I’m having a party as much as I think Jake is forcing me to participate in a party he’s throwing at my house… but yeah. The party is happening. I have to take Chandler home with me when I leave here. Jake invited her to stay for the party, so I think it’s best if we tread lightly for the rest of the night.”
Bile rose up in Tori’s throat as she realized what he was asking her to do. He wanted her to keep playing pretend in front of everyone at the party tonight. To put on a show. She had performed the role for almost three years, so it wouldn’t be hard to do for one more night. But the principal of what he was asking her to do sliced through every hopeful thread they had woven together that weekend.
“Please don’t ask me to do that, Rhett. There has to be another way.” She couldn’t imagine having to go back to pretending now that she knew how good it felt to love him out loud.
“I’m sorry. I know it sucks. But I don’t want to upset Chandler and risk her trying to drive home drunk… You know I can’t do that. Please just go along with this. Come to the party for at least a little while tonight,” Rhett begged.
“Why?” she asked too quickly. She hoped he couldn’t hear the pain in her voice.
“I think it’ll look suspicious if you don’t show up.”
All the air left Tori’s lungs in a harsh exhale. The chilly air of the cooler crept into the deepest part of her heart. Rhett didn’t want her at the party because he actually wanted her there or because he needed to make sure she was okay. He was only worried about what their friends would say if Tori skipped out tonight. Maybe he cared more about Chandler than he admitted to her. Maybe he cared more about Chandler than he even admitted to himself.
“How dare you try to convince me to come over tonight to make you look better,” she hissed through gritted teeth. “What’s the plan, Rhett? Huh? What am I going to do? Sit around pretending to be your bestie while you and Chandler get cozy in the hot tub?!” She knew what a Jake and Rhett Party typically entailed.
“Tori, you know it’s not like that. As soon as Chandler sobers up tomorrow…”
“Save your breath, Wheeler. You don’t owe me any excuses. I’m not coming over tonight. We’re not doing any of this. Have fun at your party.” She tried to shove past him, but Rhett shifted in front of the door and cut her off.
