Page 42 of Secrets We Fight
How the hell do I do that?
Use that sassy mouth of yours and figure it out
Was Rhett teasing me, or was he pissed? I wasn’t sure what to make of the sassy mouth comment, but I took a deep breath and continued toward where Rhett had been standing.
“I need to go in first,” Bernard stated.
“Of course.”
I let him do his thing and searched the hallway for Rhett. I didn’t see him, and I wondered how he planned to get inside with me.
Bernard walked out and held the door open. “All clear, sir.”
“Great.” I tried to keep my cool as I asked, “Can you wait at the end of the hall and not let anyone back? I, ah … need to blow up the toilet, if you know what I mean, and don’t want anyone waiting outside the door.”
Jesus, help me. I was lying about needing to shit all so I could have a secret conversation with Rhett.
“Sure thing, sir.” Bernard switched places with me, and I held the door open as I watched him walk down the hall.
Out of nowhere, I was pushed inside with a hand over my mouth. For a split second, I started to panic, but my eyes locked with Rhett’s baby blues and I relaxed. He held a finger over his mouth and then led me into the one stall in the men’s room.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered.
“I came to see you.”
“Came to see me or spy on me to see if I hooked up with anyone?”
He closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. “I trust you enough for that not to be a concern.”
A tinge of sadness hurt my heart. For several days, I had been trying to push him away, and he didn’t deserve that.
“I’m sorry.” I hung my head.
“For what?”
“I’ve been trying to push you away.”
“What? Why?” He lifted my chin.
I swallowed. “Because as much as I loved spending time with you and Poppy the other day, that could never be us. I’m just the guy you work for, and I figured it was best to end things sooner rather than later.”
He took a step back. “You’re not just the guy I work for.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do, but—”
“But I’ve had a change of heart.”
“Okay?” He arched a brow.
“Maybe there’s a way for us to be together and out in the open.”
“How?”
“The agency doesn’t expect me to sit at home when I’m not in school. Maybe I want to take a walk in Rose Kennedy Greenway Park, or take a drive to World’s End and go for a hike when the weather gets warmer. I don’t know, but I’m thinking we can make it work.”
“I like the sound of those things, but you know we can’t touch.”
