Page 18 of While You're There
“You need sleep. You’re tired and pissy. I’m not going to let you pick a fight tonight, especially before you have to get on a plane and leave tomorrow.”
Rhett knew she was right. But he didn’t like her tone or the fact that she was right.
“Fine,” he clipped as he unbuckled his seatbelt. He was more than ready for bed, already dreading the alarm that would start to chime in four and a half hours. Tori’s arm reached across his chest before he could open his door.
“I think you should just go home,” she suggested. Her words came out soft, but they jolted his insides, poking at all the anxiety that had bubbled up over the last twenty minutes.
He froze on contact as a fresh wave of panic coursed through his veins. They had been apart all day, and he was struggling to reconcile where things stood between them now. “What do you mean?” he choked out.
“Hey, we’re okay,” she insisted as she raised a hand and brushed her fingers along the side of his face. “I just don’t want to fight anymore. I know you need sleep. And I know you slept like shit in my bed last night.” She gave him a knowing look that told him arguing was futile. “Just go to your parents’ house, Rhett. We’re okay. I just don’t want to get into anything before you go to Virginia. I don’t want either of us to worry about anything while you’re there.”
Everything she said made sense. But still.
“You’re sure?” he asked. It was more of a plea than a question, but she didn’t know that.
“Yes. I’m sure. I love you. Goodnight.” She kissed him gently before exiting the vehicle and walking up her driveway.
Rhett silently cursed himself for letting things escalate like that. He should be following her into the house right now. But he couldn’t leave it alone. He couldn’tnotsafeguard what was his and stand his ground where Haas was concerned. He didn’t want to have to worry about her while he was away. But he also wasn’t able to explain that to Tori in a way that made sense.
Defeated, he backed out of her driveway and made the turn onto Sunset Drive. He didn’t have time to figure out anything tonight. He barely had time to sleep before he had to get back in the car and head to the airport.
Chapter eight
Tori
Toristretchedherarmsover her head before she opened her eyes. Her room was illuminated by the soft morning light that crept in around the window blinds. Little specks of dust danced in the sun streams next to her bed.
She instinctively reached for her phone to check the time. 9:42 a.m. She had slept in later than she had in a while. Even though she had insisted Rhett was the one who needed sleep last night, she knew she needed a good night’s rest as well.
She couldn’t help but wonder if she was extra tired because there could very well be cancer cells multiplying rapidly in her body. Her “inconclusive” test results had been the most frustrating report possible for someone who had been worrying about when cancer would rear its ugly head for the last ten years. She was growing increasingly anxious for the three surgery consultations on Friday.
She took in a long, steady breath, and reminded herself that she was doing everything in her power to stave off the disease that had killed her mom. She didn’t need to worry about cancer today. She had a plan, and things were happening as quickly as they could, given the circumstances. A deep, elongated exhale helped her put her worry away for now.
She opened up her messages app to read the three texts Rhett had sent her so far that morning.
Ev: Good morning, beautiful. I’m heading to the airport now.
Ev: Landed in Norfolk. I’m already excited to come home to you on Friday.
Ev: I’m sorry again about last night. I hope you have a good day. Tell Fielding I said hi. Call or text me if you need anything.
Tori sighed contentedly. She was grateful their fight wasn’t going to trickle into today. Sending Rhett home last night had been the right call because it felt like they were starting fresh this morning.
V: Hey you. I hope you slept well last night. I’m just now waking up. How’s your day so far?
Rhett’s response came through less than a minute later.
Ev: Hey lazy bones. My day is better now that I’ve heard from you. I slept well enough. I don’t think I’ll be taking too many of those 6 am flights in the future. So far the interviews are going well— there’s one candidate who really stands out.
V: Ahh I’m sorry you’re tired, Ev. It’s been a crazy couple weeks. We’ll catch up on sleep this weekend.
Ev: You know that’s not the only thing I want to catch up on. I miss you so damn much.
V: Oh yeah?
Ev: Oh yeah. We have the house (and the pool… and the hot tub…) all to ourselves this weekend, remember?
She smiled and let out a little sigh as she thought about all the catching up they could do that weekend. A second text came through before she had a chance to respond.
