by Rye Hart
“Front and center, got it. And I just want to say thank you for the opportunity. It means a great deal,” I said.
“We’re lucky to have you writing for us. You have quite an online following. We’ll expect you to advertise this somewhere on your blog to drive traffic to your article.”
“Trust me, this is huge. I’ll want to advertise it,” I said.
“Good. Once we edit it a couple of times and really get going, I’ll give you the date of publication, so you can post it somewhere.”
“Thank you. Really.”
“Are there any other questions on your part, Miss Mathews?”
“Nope. That’s it for me. I’ll get started on my research today. Do you want me to compile it along with a rough draft of how I plan to lay out the article?” I asked.
“No need. That’s what the first draft is for. It doesn’t need to be perfect. We’ll dissect it further with you in the office.”
“I’ll get it to you as soon as I can,” I said.
“We’re looking forward to it.”
I hung up the call, and my mind drifted back to Rhett. I felt like a fool for dodging him the way I had. If I had knocked on his door to talk to him or gone to that damn dinner and tried to find him, we could have cleared this up. If I had set my anger aside for one moment to get to the truth instead of getting into my head about it, this would have turned out differently. I could be calling Rhett right now and rejoicing in this article. I could be listening to him telling me how proud he was. We could be making plans to go out and celebrate since he was still local.
But I couldn’t. I had ruined it with my fragile emotions and my unstable state of mind. He seemed within my reach, but he was still so far away. This article was huge. It would give me a voice into one of the largest states that digested most of the East Coast’s paper-published news. This article would run on the front page of their website and broadcast my voice to the world.
And yet, the only person I wanted to tell was the only person I couldn’t find.
My phone rang, drawing me away from my thoughts. I wheeled away from my desk and over to my bed and then picked my cell phone up from the comforter. I saw Anna was calling, and I braced myself for the mental energy to have yet another conversation.
All I wanted to be was left alone.
“Hey there,” I said.
“Don’t sound so happy to hear from me. How did the meeting go?”
“It went really well. We laid out the groundwork, and now I need to get started on my research. I hate to break the conversation short, but I really need to get started.”
“That’s fine. I just wanted to check up on you,” she said.
“You sound happy.”
“I know that’s a foreign concept to you right now, but you’ll get there,” she said.
“Quit being snarky and tell me why you’re so happy. You didn’t call just to see how the meeting went, did you?”
“I just … wanted to call and tell you before you found out somewhere else.”
“What?” I asked. “What’s going on? Are you okay, Ana?”
“Oh yeah. I’m great. I had a date last night.”
“Like an actual date? Or one of your meet-ups after having food kind of date?”
“No, you bitch. An actual date. You know, where he picks me up and takes me out. He pays, and he tells me I’m gorgeous. He takes me back to his place, he worships me, and then he drives me home after making me breakfast.”
“Holy shit, you went on an actual date, and by the sounds of it, he liked it as much as you did,” I said. “Who was it with?”
“That’s why I called.”
“What? Please tell me it wasn’t that dumb Jarrod guy you were fucking around with before the cruise.”
“No. I went out with Tommy.”
Hearing his name was like a punch to my gut. She had gone on a date with Tommy? They were in contact? How was that possible? Had they exchanged information after the cruise? When had she seen Tommy to do something like that? Had he told her what I’d said to him in anger that last night? This was so unlike Ana, and my mind was back to spinning. Was Tommy in contact with Rhett? He had to have been. The two of them were best friends. He might know where Rhett is. He would know how to get in contact with him. He would know where he lived.
Finally, I had a way to contact Rhett and talk to him.
“Chanel?” Ana asked. “You there?”
“Are you seeing Tommy again anytime soon?” I asked.
“Why do you ask?”
“Just answer the question. Are you?”
“I am. We’re going out again tonight. Why?” she asked.
“I know Rhett’s still in the area. His contact information from the RSVP list stated he was still in Miami.”
“Oh, shit. You turned on that stalker mode, girl.”
“Do you think you could ask Tommy where he works or lives? I really need to talk to him.”
“I’ll do you one better. I’ll ask Tommy for his phone number. I’ll tell him you know the truth, and you really need to get in contact with Rhett,” she said.
“Say whatever the hell you have to to get that number.”
“Oh, girl, this’ll be easy then.”
“Ana, thank you so much. I’m serious.”
“The moment I have the number, I’ll text it to you,” she said.
“I’ll be waiting. Trust and believe. And good luck on your date tonight. I really hope you enjoy yourself again.”
“Me too. I’m really excited about it. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow. And as soon as Tommy gives me Rhett’s number, I’ll send it over.”
“Thank you again. I’m serious. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Later, beautiful.”
Hanging up the phone, a smile crossed my face. This was it. I was hours away from talking to Rhett. The moment I had his number, I was going to call, no matter what time it was. Even if I had to rattle off everything I knew to his voice mailbox, I needed him to know that I knew everything. I knew the truth. I knew that Luke had set everything up on prom night and that Evelyn was a paid pawn in his scheme to get me alone. I smiled as I pushed away from the bed, my chair rolling me back to my laptop. My mind was clearer than it had ever been knowing I was going to be talking to Rhett soon, and my fingers began to fly across the keyboard.
I pulled up tabs in my internet browser and opened eBooks. I looked up scientific studies and found scholarly resources all backing up the substance of the article I was going to be writing. I knew how I was going to outline it. I knew the perspective I was going to take. I knew the message I wanted to deliver, and I could see the entire thing coming to life in my mind’s eye. I jotted everything down into a document that was routinely being saved on my computer and I smiled at the thought of it all.
My inspiration was back. My desire to work and my need to write was back. My thirst for knowledge was greater than it had ever been, and my mind was finally clear for the first time in days … and it was all because of Rhett.
It was the prospect of talking to him that helped put my head back in the game.
That was all the confirmation I needed. I would never be my best self unless Rhett was in my life. I would never reach my fullest potential or become the best possible version of myself without that man at my side. I couldn't live without him, not a second longer. Even if we were only friends and nothing else ever came of our relationship romantically, I needed a part of him. I needed a part of him in my life to fuel the place he now occupied.
Rhett was my muse, and I couldn't let that go.
Not if I wanted to be successful, and not if I wanted to be happy.
But then, my phone rang again. It halted my work in its tracks as I rolled back over to my phone. I didn’t recognize the number calling, but the number was local. I furrowed my brow as I picked up the phone, curious as to who was calling me.
“This is Chanel Mathews, how may I help you?”
“Miss Mathews? T
his is Officer Childs from Miami P.D.”
I felt my blood run cold as my hands began to tremble.
“Yes. How can I help you, Officer Childs?” I asked.
“It’s about Luke Thomas,” she said. “I have some information for you.”
CHAPTER 36
RHETT
As I sat on the couch with a beer in my hand, I watched animals crawl across my television screen. There was something comforting about watching the Animal Planet channel. There was something familiar yet beautiful about it, a natural order to things and a hierarchy, a routine that never changed in the animal kingdom. It reminded me of my days as a SEAL, but in a good way. That routine was something I wanted to instill in my life. That kind of hierarchy that came naturally was something I wanted for the life I wanted to live.
But my phone ringing pulled me from my trance.
I knew it wasn’t Tommy because he was out with Ana again. And I was happy for him, I really was, but hearing about how he was still with her only fueled my disappointment and my anger. I wanted both of us to get what we wanted from that cruise. I wanted the four of us to be okay. I wanted to lose myself in Chanel like he was losing himself in Ana.
I picked up my phone and didn’t recognize the number that was calling. I almost sent it to my voicemail, but my gut told me to pick it up. I questioned my gut, knowing it had led me astray when it told me to stay away from Chanel on the boat to give her space and live out the rest of my days alone and tired and sad. But that was one moment out of countless others where my gut had saved my life and following my gut had not only saved my life but the lives of others. Listening to what it was saying had gotten me more rewards than anything else had in my entire life.
So, against my knee-jerk reaction, I picked up the phone.
“Hello?”
“Rhett?”
“Chanel?” I asked.
“Hey. Hey there,” she said.
“Chanel, are you okay?” I said, my body going on high alert.
I could hear the shaking of her voice. I was shocked to hear her voice on the other end of my phone, but the worst came to mind. Had something happened to her? Was she hurt? Holy fuck, had Luke done something to her? Had he gotten out?
“Yeah, I— I— I’m okay. I just— Wow. I’m sorry it’s so late,” she said.
“I don’t even remotely care about that. But you don’t sound okay. Are you hurt? Did something happen with Luke?” I asked.
“Yes, something did happen with Luke.”
I felt my blood boiling. I hopped off the couch, my beer tumbling from my hands. I searched for my keys as I slipped my shoes on, ready to run out the door. I was going to beat that sorry asshole’s face until he was unrecognizable. I didn’t know how the hell he’d gotten out of police custody, but he wasn’t going to continue terrorizing Chanel’s life.
Not if I had anything to do with it.
“Where are you? Are you local? If you are, I can come to you right now. What did he do?” I asked.
“It’s nothing bad,” Chanel said. “Just some information.”
“What information?” I asked.
“I was informed earlier this afternoon that Luke was arrested right away off the ship.”
“I know,” I said.
“You know?”
“Yeah. Tommy and I disembarked early. I saw them take him into custody.”
“Oh. Well, his hearing is set for next Friday to begin everything. As of now, I don’t have to make an appearance, but they said someone will contact me if I have to.”
“Do you need a lawyer of some sort?” I asked. “Do you need help with any of this?”
“No. I’m slowly sorting it all out. I’m okay, I promise. But I do want to talk to you in person. Is that possible?”
“Of course. You can come over now if you want. I’ll text you my address.”
“Really? Okay. I’ll do that, then,” she said.
“I’m sending it over now.”
I sent her a text message with my address, and then the two of us said goodbye. My hands were shaking, and my mind had been stunned to a halt. Suddenly, the doors of hope had opened for me. I went from not knowing how to contact Chanel at all to giving her my address, so she could come over. How had she gotten my number? Did Ana give it to her? Did Chanel ask Ana to get it from Tommy? That was the only thing that made sense because I knew Tommy. I knew he would never give out my information like that without being prompted.
If Tommy had given Ana my number to pass on, I needed to get him a present, a fucking lifetime gift certificate to his favorite bar or something.
I ran around my apartment, trying to clean it up as best as I could. I didn't want Chanel walking into a place that was dirty and strewn about with things I hadn't bothered to pick up the past week. I didn't want to show her how badly I had fallen after the cruise and how low I had sunk knowing I was never going to be able to see her again. I didn't know what she wanted to talk about, but I knew one thing for sure; I didn't want to risk jeopardizing the topic of conversation because I didn't know how to pull myself together.
Thirty minutes later, a knock came at my door, and my heart began to slam in my chest. I walked over and put my hand on the doorknob, drawing a deep breath through my nose. This was it. This was the chance I had to tell Chanel what I knew. I had no idea if she was going to believe me, and I had no idea what I was going to do if she didn't, but I knew I had to try. I knew I would never be able to live with myself ever again if I didn't try.
I opened the door and took in the beauty of her presence as a small smile played across her cheeks.
But then, she did something I didn’t expect.
She reached for my shirt and pulled me against her body.
Our lips connected, and fire burst in my gut. I felt her lips moving against mine, the contact too much for her to handle. I wrapped my arms around her and dragged her into the apartment, slamming the door shut with her back against it. Her hands were roaming my body, tugging at my shirt as she ripped it over my head. Her purse dropped to the floor as she kicked off her shoes, and in a mindless haze, my lips traveled down her neck.
“I’m so sorry,” Chanel said breathlessly.
Her words stopped me in my tracks.
“For what?” I asked.
“For everything.”
I lifted my eyes to connect with hers as her fingertips played along the muscles of my chest. Her eyes were full of regret and sorrow, and I could feel her body quaking. I slid my hands along her waist, taking in her gorgeous curves before I progressed the conversation. Her touch felt so good against me, but I couldn't have this. I couldn’t have her apologizing for something that wasn’t her fault.
Especially if she was talking about what I thought she was.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I said.
“But I do. I ran into Evelyn as Ana and I were getting off the ship. Rhett, she told me everything.”
“She did?” I asked.
“Yes. About Luke and the money. I know she went to prom with him and drugged you and followed you out to your car, and it was this whole plan Luke had devised to get me alone with him so he could do fuck-knows-what that night to me. She told me all of it. Every part.”
My eyes danced between hers as I wrapped my hands around her wrists. She cupped my cheeks with her hands, pulling my face closer to hers. Our lips connected again but this time softer. Her touch was warm, welcoming, pulling me into her and making me believe that everything really was going to be alright.
“I believe that you didn’t cheat on me,” she whispered.
Relief coursed through my body as I pressed myself along her curves.
“I know you didn’t cheat, Rhett. And I’m sorry for not giving you the chance to tell me about it. I’m sorry I didn’t listen back then, and I’m sorry I was too blind to see it now. I’m sorry that I held that hurt so close that it caused a rift between us again. You did nothing, and you’ve been paying for it for years.”
“I didn’t know how to reach out to you to tell you until Ana broke the news to me that she and Tommy were going on dates,” she said.
“Did it shock you like it shocked me?” I asked.
“Not really. I saw how she was with him on the cruise, but I asked her to get your number from Tommy. I couldn't think of any other way to contact you.”
“I’m glad you did,” I said with a smile. “Really glad.”
My hands wrapped around her, slipping underneath her shirt. Our lips connected again as I felt her smile, my hands inching her shirt over her head. Her skin was warm against my touch as her lips pressed onto my chest. I could feel her fingertips dancing along the waist of my pants as my cock sprang to life. This was happening. This was really happening. Chanel was here in my arms, here against my body, and she was about to let me have her.
After admitting she knew the truth.
“Everything is okay,” I said. “I understand why you didn’t believe me.”
“I should have from the start,” she said breathlessly.
“You were protecting yourself, and no one will ever fault you for that, especially me. I’m just glad you know the truth now. I’m glad you’re here with me, letting me touch you like this again.”
Her hands began to unbutton my pants, sliding them down my legs as the fabric pooled at my feet.
“I haven’t been able to get you off my mind,” Chanel said.
“That makes two of us,” I said as I stepped out of my pants.
“I missed you.”
It was like a whispered prayer, like an afterthought she might not have meant to say. I raked my eyes up and down her body as my hands grasped her hips, feeling the heat of her skin through her yoga pants. I pulled her body close to mine, peeling her away from the door and turning her toward my living room. I slowly backed her to the couch, her luscious ass hitting the edge of it as our eyes held each other's gaze.
Then, I cupped her chin and led her lips back to mine.