Page 8 of When You're Home
“Are you okay?”
It wasn’t so much of a question as it was a recognition: Tori was telling him she saw him, that she saw right through him, and she knew something was wrong. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t even open his eyes as he continued to rest his forehead on hers.
“How can I help?” Worry doused the heat that had been building between them. Rhett was usually so in control. It was unnerving to see him this way.
“Well, that was helping.” He bent down to kiss her softly again as he opened his eyes. Maybe she was reading too much into things. If he was capable of joking right now, it couldn’t be that big of a deal. She needed to chill and just wait for him to tell her whatever it was he needed to say.
“I’m sorry.” He exhaled, blowing out a long, slow breath. “I don’t think I realized how much I missed you until I saw you standing in the doorway just now.” She knew he missed her. She could feel his erection through his boxer briefs as he shifted his hips toward her and pulled her in for another hug.
“We’ve gone a lot longer before, you know,” she reminded him, returning his hug. Just because they had gone longer without seeing each other didn’t mean it had gone well. Tori had lost track of time since the start of the new semester at school, but he was right: More than three weeks had passed since he’d gone back to school after winter break. Usually by the time she started to really miss him, he had already sent her a calendar notification with the dates of his next trip home. That was Rhett. The planner. The doer. Mr. Consistent and Mr. Dependable. He was the steadiest, most reliable person in her life.
He gave her a tight smile, then bent low again to kiss her on the forehead. He placed his hands on her shoulders as he guided her backwards toward his bed, depositing her on top of his rumpled sheets before ducking into his closet.
Okay then.
Tori wasn’t expecting him to pump the brakes on what they both knew was inevitable. He was home. They had the house to themselves. It was weird that he wasn’t already on top of her. She decided to follow his lead, though. They still had the whole day ahead of them. She scooted herself further up the mattress and crawled under the covers as she waited for whatever was going to happen next.
Chapter 4
Rhett
“Goaheadandmakeyourselfcomfortable.”Rhettchuckledashewatchedherarrangeherselfinhissheets.Damn. She looked so good lying in his bed. What he said had been true: He had missed her over the last three weeks. More than usual, more intensely than he had in a long time. Yesterday’s showdown with Chandler may have been the catalyst for him coming home to Hampton this weekend, but something told him he would have ended up here soon regardless.
“You know I always do. I would invite you to join me, but I have some questions before we proceed.” She wagged her eyebrows as he walked all the way into his closet.
“Such as?” he called back from inside the closet.
“Do your parents know you’re home this weekend?”
“Nope,” he replied automatically, surveying his T-shirt stack. “Hey, have you been swiping more of my shirts? I’ve got like three options left in here.”
“Don’t try to change the subject,” she replied too quickly. Busted. “I thought I was the one asking the questions.”
“Fair enough. Proceed.”
“Does your best friend know you’re in town?” she asked.
Rhett stepped into a pair of joggers and pulled them up before moving to stand in the doorframe. He knew she meant Jake, and the answer was technically no. “My best friend is lying in my bed right now, so yeah, I think she knows.”
Tori rolled her eyes as he wandered back into the closet. He still needed to find clean socks, a base layer, and at least a hoodie if they were going hiking today.
“What are you doing in there?” she asked. He couldn’t see her now, but he could hear her rustling around in his sheets.
“V, I know you don’t have any qualms about being naked in public, but there’s no way I’m going to the Ledges without clothes.” He peeked his head out of the closet and shot her a teasing grin. The look on her face was more than skeptical, though. He watched as realization passed over her expression.
Tori toyed with the corner of his sheets, running her fingers back and forth over the navy fabric. “You left Easton so fast you didn’t even bring a bag with you.” It didn’t come out as a question or even an accusation. Her observation was spot on.
“Everhett… What happened?” Her voice was dripping with concern. He stepped further into his closet to delay answering her right away. He could feel her gaze boring into the back of his head, willing him to turn around and face her. He still wasn’t ready to explain the details of his blowup with Chandler. Hell, he didn’t even fully understand how everything unfolded or where things stood with his girlfriend back at Easton.
“Did you break up with Chandler?” Tori pushed. Her eyes scrutinized him as he emerged from the closet with a sweatshirt in hand.
“No,” he answered firmly, watching her face for any sign of a reaction.
“Okay, good.” There was no undercurrent to her response.
“Good?” His cheeks flushed at her lack of reaction. What would she have said if he’d said yes? What would she dare say to him if he had actually ended things with Chandler?
“Yeah, Rhett. Good. Really good. I see the pictures she posts of you guys. You look happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
