Page 60 of When You're Home
“I’ll make sure the house is locked up and the alarm system is set. Just turn it on before you pass out for the night. I don’t want to set it now in case anyone decides to leave.” They had thrown enough Jake and Rhett Parties over the years to know the routine. A lot of things may have spiraled out of control tonight, but they had this part down to a science.
“And Jake?”
“Yeah, bro?”
“No one goes upstairs.” The words came out crystal clear, sounding more like a threat than a suggestion. He needed to make sure Anwar and Cole heard him, too.
“Agreed.”
He finally turned to Chandler. He knew he was responsible for how so many things had unfolded over the course of the day, but he couldn’t help but think about how much shit wouldn’t have hit the fan if she just hadn’t shown up in Hampton unannounced.
“I’m sorry today sucked,” he grumbled. He was exhausted, defeated, and completely out of fucks. That was the best he could do right now. “I’ll walk you upstairs if you’re ready for bed?” he asked, running his hand against the stubble on his jaw.
Chandler said nothing but nodded and gave him a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She hopped off the barstool and turned to Jake. “Thanks for putting up with me all day,” she said, wrapping her arms around him in a side hug and kissing him on the cheek. Jake looked surprised by her unexpected affection.
“I’m glad we finally got to meet,” he responded.
Chandler made her way around the bar, waving to Cory and Lia on the couch. “Goodnight, everyone,” she called to the group playing beer bong before turning to smile at Cole and Anwar. “It was nice to meet you guys, too.”
Chandler’s heels clicked across the sunroom tiles as she made her way toward the door. Rhett began to follow her into the house, but he paused to issue one more warning to the group congregated around the beer pong table.
“Hey, Cole and Anwar know the deal for sleeping arrangements tonight for anyone who’s staying. The house has an alarm system so just tell Jake if you’re heading out so you don’t trip it. Upstairs is completely off limits,” he finished, raising his arm to wave goodnight.
“You and your stupid limits,” Fielding muttered just loud enough for him to hear before sinking a ball into the cup he was aiming for.
Rhett didn’t take the bait, instead walking into the house and toward the stairs. Chandler had her foot on the first step when he caught up with her.
“Hey, so I moved your bag to the guest bedroom down the hall,” he whispered.
“What? Why?” she asked, glancing back at him with a look of panic in her eyes.
“It’s not a big deal,” he reassured her. “Tori passed out in my bed, and I didn’t want you to have to go in there to get your things.”
“Why didn’t she pass out in the guest room?” Chandler hissed as the second-to-last stair from the top squeaked in protest. She stopped on the landing and turned to face him.
“I honestly don’t know, babe,” Rhett lied. “My room’s the first door off the stairs, so maybe that’s as far as she got?”
Chandler glanced toward his bedroom. The door was open, the outline of Tori’s body clearly visible under the covers. She let out a long, dramatic sigh.
“It’s weird that she’s in your bed right now, Rhett. This whole night has been off. I’m trying not to freak out, but I just get this bad feeling about Tori."
He was desperate to make her shut her up. He couldn’t do this right now. He needed to be done. He decided to take the path of least resistance, just one more time tonight.
“Shhh,” he soothed, willing Chandler to lower her voice and actually stop talking. “I know. I’m sorry. Honestly? Tori doesn’t drink much, so I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know whose bed she’s in right now. Do you want me to try and move her?”
She bristled at his suggestion, just like he knew she would.
“No, of course not. It’s just… You know what, never mind. I don’t care where your ex-girlfriend from high school sleeps tonight, as long as you’re climbing in bed with me,” she stated triumphantly, running a perfectly polished nail along the stubble on his jaw.
It was Rhett’s turn to bristle toward her. After everything she had just witnessed, how in the world was she still interested in sleeping next to him, let alone sleeping with him? She clearly hadn’t been paying attention tonight. That, or she was willing to stay in denial if it meant staying with him. Rhett felt his stomach clench with pity as he realized just how much she was willing to tolerate.
“Babe, I’m exhausted. I’m not going to be any fun tonight.”
“Then where do you plan to sleep, Everhett?” He knew that look in her eyes, and he knew he didn’t have another fight left in him tonight.
“I’ll sleep in the guest room with you,” he insisted as if it was obvious. “I’m just falling asleep on my feet right now and didn’t want to disappoint you.”
“I’m exhausted, too,” she responded, smiling and leaning into his body. Rhett instinctively wrapped an arm around her. “Let’s go to bed.”
