Page 88 of When You're Gone
“I think the better question iswhodo you think he slept with last night?”
Tori rolled her eyes, but then softened her expression as she thought about the man who had shown up so big and helped them in so many ways over the last year. He was their dearest friend, her closest confidant, and the one person she couldn’t imagine not seeing every day when she moved to Virginia.
“That’ll be my hardest goodbye,” she lamented. She didn’t have to expand for Rhett to know exactly what she meant.
“I know. But we’ll be back. Hampton will always be home.”
“Speaking of Hampton… can we head back to my house this afternoon? I promised my dad I’d take care of something before the end of the weekend.”
They were standing in her backyard, his arm around her shoulders, her arms wrapped around his waist, staring at the broken spot in the fence that had served as their own personal gateway to each other’s heart for so many years.
“My mom’s letter from the wedding said she made my dad swear to never mend this fence.”
“So you want to do it yourself,” Rhett realized out loud.
“Well, we’re contractually obligated to fix it before the new owners move in. But I told my dad I would take care of it so he wouldn’t have to break his promise.” She smiled up at her husband and scrunched her nose.
The look he gave her in return solidified everything she was feeling in that moment. A pang of sadness, yes, but an abundance of hopefulness about what came next for their story.
“It’s a two-person job, V,” he pointed out as he nodded toward the precut boards, the level, and the nail gun laid out on the lawn.
Her dad had purchased all the materials to fix the fence years ago. But he had kept his promise to her mother: he had honored the beauty in the broken; he had ensured Tori had a way back to Rhett—and back to herself—as she struggled to accept the love she deserved.
“I know,” she confirmed solemnly. This wasn’t something she could have done alone. Not physically. Not emotionally. This was her placing the not-so-proverbial nails into the coffin of the girl she once was. But there was no grief with this goodbye.
Sometimes a broken fence had to stay broken. But other times, it had to be repaired to stop the sorrow from bleeding out. The gap in the fence had served them well all these years. But now it was time to move on.
“Part of me always knew that the boy who held my hand through the gap in this fence all those years ago would also be the one to help me patch it up and make it whole again.”
You met him behind the bar at Clinton’s in When You’re Home. You swooned as he stood by Rhett and Tori’s sides in the Hampton Hearts Series. Now get to know the boy behind the man everyone relies on… Enjoy the following excerpt from Rowdy Boy, a novella by Abby Millsaps.
I shouldn’t be here right now. I shouldn’t have even bothered. The heat of the hot tub is doing nothing to tame the rage running along my spine.
I can’t even close my eyes without picturing his face: his smug, knowing smile. Those cruel, watery eyes. How long has it been going on? How long have I been a pawn in his game?
I’d been clear with her about my intentions from the beginning. She’d been lying through her teeth the whole time.
I can’t sit in this hot tub for another second. I need a goddamn release. I don’t know where I’ll go or what I do. But I can’t stay here.
“All right, I’m out,” I declare as I push to my feet.
That gets their attention.
“Jakey…”
Her voice is laced with pity. I don’t want her fucking pity. I know Rhett tells her things, and usually I don’t give a shit. But they have no idea what happened tonight. What he admitted to. What I fucking fell for.
Tori’s sitting on Rhett’s lap, his arm woven around her front like a seat belt. I should have taken the hint when I first got here. They obviously had plans tonight. Plans that don’t require an audience.
“Looks like you two could use some privacy,” I quip, jutting my chin in their direction before turning back to the stairs. I’m already two steps up and out of the water when Rhett’s words hit me.
“Sit down, bro.”
It’s a command. Part of me fucking hates it. The other part aches to listen and just let go. I give in, splashing back down on the bench.
“What’s got you all twisted?” Rhett asks, staring at me through squinted eyes as Tori reaches up to wrap her hand around the back of his neck. The way she’s slowly moving in the water… fuck. Are we really going to sit here and pretend like she’s not grinding on his dick while he tries to force a conversation?
“Simmer down,” I hear him whisper as he nips the shell of her ear. She stills but coyly smiles and keeps her hand cupped around his neck.
