Page 55 of When You're Gone
“One of you better explain to me what I just walked in on before I pull Haas out of the hot tub and punch him in the fucking face.”
Panic coursed through her as she tried to meet Fielding’s gaze. But his eyes were set on that damn waterfall again, his intent to ignore her clear. She could see the rejection rolling off him, his pain palpable as he sat there, unblinking.
“Haas?” Jake demanded.
One of them needed to say something. One of them had to explain before he assumed…
“It was exactly what it looked like,” Fielding deadpanned. He gave her a questioning glance, inviting her to challenge him. To deny it. To defend what Jake had seen with his own eyes.
But she had no words. Her mind was blank. She refused to even acknowledge what she had almost done.
When she didn’t say anything, Fielding spoke again. “You know damn well I would never even think about touching her without her consent.”
When she still didn’t object to the accusation, Jake groaned. “Fuck.Tell me I’m not hearing this. Tell me I didn’t just see what I thought I saw…”
For a girl who had been so desperate to feel something for so long, she was overcome with a crushing wave of emotions now. Shame, embarrassment, and fear spiraled into a toxic cyclone inside her. She needed to let it out. But first she needed them gone.
“You should go, Field,” she finally muttered before adding, “You too, Jake.”
Fielding pushed to his feet on command, but not before reaching out, gripping her chin, and tilting her head up to meet his gaze. He stood above her on the hot tub steps, dripping wet and seething. She met his eyes and soaked in the hurt that coiled behind his stare.
“That’s what I thought. Now we both know for sure.”
He stepped out of the hot tub, a trail of water cascading down his body. She didn’t turn around or watch him go. Jake grumbled something about being right back before hounding Field into the house. She didn’t really care if he stayed or if he followed the other man home.
She sank into the water, so low that the bubbles covered her chin. With part of her face already submerged, the tears had less distance to fall.
What had just happened?
What hadalmosthappened?
What had shewantedto happen?
She gasped out a sob before plunging forward and submerging herself completely.
Chapter twenty
Rhett
Hepushedthroughthedoor of his apartment as his phone vibrated in his pocket. It had been a long-ass day, and he still had eighteen holes of golf to get through tomorrow. He hoped that wasn’t Quinn. He had no interest in working anymore tonight. He just wanted to go to bed, rinse, and repeat.
He closed the door as he let his messenger bag slide off his arm. He fished out his phone and felt anxiety spike inside him when he saw Jake’s picture on the screen. There were very few reasons his best friend would call him. Especially at night. Especially without warning or a heads-up text.
“Hello?” he managed to answer as he leaned against the closed door.
“Hey bro,” Jake said cautiously. “She’s okay. She’s not physically hurt.”
Rhett exhaled in relief.
“But something happened tonight that you need to know about.”
“Good opener. What happened?” he demanded.
“I don’t actually know what happened. I just…”
“Jake, I’m exhausted. Please don’t fuck with me. If you’ve got something to say…”
“Rhett. Listen. Listen to what I’m saying. I don’t actuallyknowwhat happened. Maybe something? Maybe nothing? But I just showed up at your house to hang out with your wife, and she and Fielding were way too close in the hot tub.”
