Page 56 of When You're Home
“Don’t push him away just to make him hurt the way you’re hurting, Tor,” Lia tried again, softer this time. “I know you. I know what you’re doing right now. Don’t self-destruct tonight to avoid having to deal with him tomorrow.”
Tori let Lia’s words sink in as she sunk further into the couch. She closed her eyes again, wishing she was still in her bed, wishing she hadn’t taken the bait, wishing she wasn’t so determined to do what she knew she was going to do. But just like Jake had said earlier: there was no turning back now.
Chapter 32
Rhett
Rhettlookedaroundattheotherguysinthehottub.Hewonderedhowmuchlongerhe’dhavetostayoutherewiththem,pretendingtocareastheyshottheshitanddrankhisliquor.
“So, what’s her story?” Fielding asked as he moved over into Jake’s abandoned seat. Rhett’s defenses went up instantly. He took a steadying breath before turning to respond.
“Whose story?” he asked blankly, like he didn’t know exactly who was on Fielding’s mind.
“Tori, man. You guys dated back in high school, right? Do you know if she’s seeing anyone now?”
Rhett didn’t know Fielding as well as he knew his brother. Dempsey and Rhett had played lacrosse together all four years at Archway Prep. They were two of the only three freshmen to play varsity their first year. Dempsey was a good guy, or at least he had been in high school. The Haas brothers had gone on to graduate from an Ivy, but they were both back in Hampton for some reason now, working valet for a few of the restaurants in town. Rhett didn’t know their full story, but he knew their family had money, so he assumed they were just drawing from their trust funds and shooting the shit for as long as possible before joining the real world.
The valet boys were notorious for their partying. They all lived together in a big house right on the edge of Hampton. They were known for being nondiscriminatory in their pursuit of any woman with a pulse: they hooked up with drunk sorority girls just as often as they pursued the older women they met while parking their expensive cars.
“No story, but she’s off limits,” he replied with a shrug.
Fielding smirked and took a long drink. “She wasn’t acting off limits.”
Rhett felt his spine stiffen and his cheeks flush. He hadn’t considered having to fend off advances from these guys on Tori’s behalf tonight. The fact that he couldn’t just come out and say she was his girlfriend killed him. He had to try and find a workaround.
“She’s clearly drunk, Haas. Off. Limits. Or do things like consciousness and consent not matter to you?” Rhett’s voice dripped with disgust. He realized all eyes were on him now, watching curiously as he and Fielding went back and forth.
“She’s drunktonight,” Fielding stipulated. “She won’t be later this week, though, and spring break has just begun.”
Rhett visualized his feet encased in cement blocks, anchoring him in place in the hot tub. It was the only way he could stop himself from jumping out of the water and putting the other man in a chokehold for suggesting he was going to pursue Tori.
“You callin’ dibs, Field?” Anwar asked from across the way.
“Yeah, she’s mine,” Fielding announced, looking around the hot tub to confirm his roommates heard him.
“You guys are something else. She’s wasted, and you’re really trying to call ‘dibs’ on getting with her? I should send all you sickos home right now,” Rhett threatened.
“Chill, Wheeler. I’m not putting any moves on her tonight,” Fielding promised, his arms raised in defense. “Too easy,” he declared with another smirk.
“Play nice, Fielding,” Dempsey warned his brother. At least one of the Haas brothers had the decency to read the room.
“Oh Dem—you always underestimate me.” Fielding smiled slyly at his twin. “You didn’t see how she was looking at me before we came over here. She’ll be in my bed within seventy-two hours, tops.”
“Care to put your money where your mouth is, Field?” Anwar challenged from across the water.
Rhett growled his disapproval as the other men placed bets on how quickly Fielding could get Tori into bed. Without another word, he stood up and exited the hot tub, pulling a towel off the pile from one of the pool chairs. Dempsey also got out and wordlessly dried off beside him before heading inside. Rhett ran a towel over his hair, then noticed Tori’s things were still sitting on the chair outside. He picked up her phone, keys, and dress, hoping she had enough whereabouts to at least grab a robe when she went inside.
Relief washed over him when he pulled open the sunroom door and his eyes landed on her, fully robed and squished between Cory and Lia on the couch.
“Rhett!” Chandler greeted him loudly, calling everyone’s attention to his entrance. “Come taste this! Jake is teaching me how to make an old-fashioned. He said it’s one of your favorites.” She slid a full tumbler across the bar in his direction.
“Huh,” he heard Tori start from her spot on the couch. “I didn’t know you liked anything besides straight whiskey, Wheeler.”
Rhett glared at her. He saw Cory gently pinch her lips together and try to shush her.Good man.
“I think most of us have had enough to drink tonight,” he replied to Chandler, but glanced over at Tori with a pointed look. “Can I get one of those instead?” he asked, cocking his head toward the water bottles before taking a seat on one of the barstools.
“Oh shoot! I’m sorry, Rhett! I totally forgot to bring the waters you asked for. Jake came in and distracted me with all his smooth bartending skills.” Chandler smiled as she nudged Jake in the side.
