Page 16 of While You're There
Rhett parked as close to the side door of Clinton’s as possible. He’d just be in and out tonight. He knew Jake was working, and as much as he’d love to hang out and catch up, he was anxious to get Tori home and get some sleep. He needed to be up in five hours to head to the airport for his flight to Virginia.
He tugged at the side door of the restaurant and felt the familiar give when it opened. What he didn’t expect was the peel of laughter that greeted him as he stepped inside. His mouth involuntarily turned up into a smile just from the sound of her laugh. He had missed her all day, and now he was especially glad he insisted on driving her to work. The few extra minutes in the car together would help him get through the time apart over the next few days.
But it wasn’t just Tori and Jake still inside the restaurant when he walked in. Fielding Haas was also sitting at the bar, right next to his girl. Rhett pocketed his phone and stood up a little straighter as he approached. He wrapped his arms around Tori from behind, affectionately brushing his hand along her shoulder as he gently squeezed.
“Hi, beautiful,” he murmured into her ear.
“Rhett!” She sounded surprised, even though he had texted her ten minutes ago to say he was on his way to pick her up. “I didn’t even hear you come in. You didn’t have to come get me. I would have just come out to the car.”
He brushed his lips against the side of Tori’s neck, lingering longer than he normally would for such an intimate gesture in public. He felt her pulse pick up in response to his affection. “I don’t mind coming in for you. You know that.”
Rhett lifted his eyes to find Jake behind the bar. “Hey, bro,” he said before looking over and adding, “Haas,” in greeting to the other man. It was civil. And it was also all he was willing to give.
“Wheeler.” Fielding matched his tone as he twirled his keys on one of his fingers. A few tense seconds passed. No one said anything for one breath, then two.
Finally, Rhett broke the silence.“Is Mike in the back?” He still had one arm wrapped around the front of Tori’s chest, his chin resting in the dip between her shoulder and her collarbone as he held her. He had missed her all day. Just her physical proximity to her now was soothing to his wound-up nerves.
“Nope,” Jake answered. “He’s been putting in a ton of hours next door trying to get everything up to code for the final planning commission meeting in a few weeks. He’s either still over there, or he already went home.”
“So you’re the boss tonight?”
“I’m the boss tonight,” Jake boasted with a sly smile.
“And it looks like you’re staying open late?” Rhett challenged, cocking his head toward Haas.
“Nah, front door’s locked and we’re closed. Fielding’s just waiting on me. We’re going back to my place to chill.”
Rhett didn’t let the surprise register on his face as he took in the information. Jake had told him that he and Tori had both gotten closer with Fielding over the last few months. He obviously hadn’t realized how close.
“Alright, let’s go,” Tori interjected. “Youhave an early flight tomorrow,” she reminded him, kissing his arm before uncoiling it from around her body. She slid off the barstool and grabbed her bag. “Will I see you Thursday, Jake?”
“I’ll be here, baby.”
“And I’ll text you when I get up tomorrow, Field,” she added as she smiled at the other man. Rhett tensed at her promise, his molars immediately finding the fleshy part of the inside of his cheek and biting down to thwart an outward reaction.
Fielding nodded. “I’m going to run out to the store before you come over. I’m pretty sure no one has bought groceries at the house since the last time you and I went shopping. Text me your list, ’kay?”
Rhett watched Tori’s profile as he processed everything Haas said. None of the information was landing right or sitting well. He tasted a distinct rust flavor just as he realized how hard he was biting on the inside of his cheek.
“Goodnight, Fielding,” she replied before taking Rhett’s hand and walking toward the door.
“Goodnight, Victoria,” Haas responded with more flirtation in his voice than necessary. Why the hell did he always have to call her by her full name?
Rhett held the side door open, then quickly strode past her to open the passenger door of the Prelude. Once she was securely inside, he slammed it shut and let out a frustrated sigh. He had been so inside his own head—worried about graduation and his schedule and Tori’s appointments on Friday—that he hadn’t given Haas another thought since he and Tori left for Michigan a few weeks ago.
Seeing him sitting next to his fiancée tonight was like being doused with a bucket of ice water. Fielding Haas was trouble. He knew it in his bones. He felt it in his gut. He hated that he had such a visceral reaction to the guy, but he just couldn’t shake it. He knew there was almost no way to bring up his feelings without starting a fight. He also knew there was no chance he wasn’t going to bring it up.
“How was your shift?” he asked, trying to sound casual as he put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking spot.
“It was super slow tonight.”
Rhett nodded, feeling a small sense of relief that she didn’t have to worry about slow shifts and low tip nights anymore.
“So you had plenty of time to hang out with Haas?” he inquired, the words coming out sharper than intended.
He felt Tori’s guard go up. Instead of replying right away, she rolled her window down and rested her elbow on the opening while her fingers drummed on the doorframe. He could smell the promise of rain in the air, the scent of ozone mixing with the tanginess of the fresh mulch spread along the flower beds around the downtown area. It was the distinct perfume of springtime in Ohio.
“Fielding showed up around eight tonight. We did spend some time hanging out and catching up since I’ve barely talked to him over the last few weeks.”
