Rhett in Love (Rhett #2)(11)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“I knew it the moment we had our first conversation.” He smiled at me gently. “I knew it when I looked into your eyes. As soon as I saw you, I knew you were the one.”

“Holden, that’s awfully romantic, but I already told you that—”

“It’s okay.” He smiled at me. “I’m a patient guy. When something’s meant to be, it’ll be. Love isn’t meant to be hard. Love isn’t based on lies. Love isn’t comfortable. Love just is.”

“I’ll call you later, Holden.” I opened the door quickly and ran inside and then shut it firmly. Was Holden a psychopath? I could feel my heart beating at his words. Why was he saying those things to me? He didn’t even know me. Holden had made me very uncomfortable, but he had made me think as well. Was I letting Rhett get away with too much? Had I made it too easy on him? He’d done whatever he wanted whenever he wanted and I’d just been there sitting on the sidelines. And as soon as I’d started dating and he’d realized he was falling for me, I’d become his. I hadn’t made it hard on him. Even now, he was doing what he wanted without thinking about me. Did he really love me? Or was I just a possession to him that he didn’t want anyone else to have. I walked up the stairs slowly thinking hard. Was this for real? Was he really the one? Had I made things too easy for him? Was he going to tire of me? And if he did, would I lose him forever? Would I even want to be friends with him if he broke my heart? I stopped outside our door and leaned against the wall as I struggled to gain my composure. Everything had moved so quickly and everything wasn’t going as smoothly as I’d hoped for. I didn’t feel like I was living in the dream I’d always imagined my love story to be. I didn’t feel any real romance from Rhett. I didn’t feel like he really truly adored me. All he ever seemed to want was sex. He never surprised me with flowers or a homemade meal. He never wrote me poems or letters. He never called to tell me he loved me just because. He never did any of the things I’d always dreamed about having in a relationship and I didn’t know how to tell him. I mean how could I expect anything different? He’d never been the guy that was full of romance. He’d never been the guy to sweep a girl off of her feet and I wasn’t sure why I’d hoped things would be different between us.

I opened the door slowly and walked into the apartment. Rhett and Tomas were sitting at the dining table glaring at each other and I hoped that we weren’t about to revisit the strip-club story.

“Where’ve you been?” Rhett jumped up and walked over to me, a look of contrition on his face.

“I went to the coffee shop. And Holden was there and we talked for a bit.”

“Of course, he was there.” He sounded annoyed.

“I didn’t know he was going to be there.”

“Yeah, sure.” He took his coffee and walked to the large navy couch. I walked over to the table and gave Tomas a coffee and a croissant and sat down across from him.

“So how’ve you been?” I took a sip of coffee and ignored Rhett’s glare.

“I hope I didn’t start anything?” Tomas looked uncomfortable as he bit into his croissant. “You know I didn’t mean any trouble. I just wanted me and my boy to have some fun, like we did in the old days.”

“The old days were a couple of months ago.” I said in a monotone. “And I didn’t stop you, did I?”

“Rhett didn’t want to go.” Tomas spat out. “I made him. It’s my bad.”

“He didn’t have to go if he didn’t want to. I assume you didn’t have a gun to his head?”

“Well no.”

“And I assume you didn’t force those four women to give him lap dances?” I raised an eyebrow at him and he made a face and looked at Rhett. “It’s fine Tomas. I know you’re just trying to be a good friend. Rhett and I will discuss it later.”

“Well, you guys can discuss it now.” Tomas jumped up quickly. “One of the girls from last night just text me and she wants to show me some new moves.”

“One of the strippers?” I asked in disbelief. He wasn’t seriously going to go and hook up with a stripper, was he?

“Hell yeah.” He jumped up. “I need a shower, and then I’m out. I’ll catch you both for dinner later?”

“Sure.” My jaw dropped as he ran into the shower and then I looked at Rhett. “Is he being serious?”

“He sure is.” Rhett nodded, a small smile on his face.

“Did you ever hook up with a stripper?”

“Never.” He said solemnly. “I’ve never done anything with a stripper, well asides from that time I was wearing the sweatpants and you know.”

“Yes, I know.” I cringed. “No need to remind me.”

“That’s a mistake I’ll never make again.” He grinned.

“What’s that?” I asked softly.

“I’ll never get a lap dance in sweat pants and no underwear. I swear it felt like she was rubbing on my cock directly.” His face froze as he realized what he’d just said. “Shit, I guess I fucked up again huh?”

“No.” I stood up and walked over to the couch and joined him. “You didn’t fuck up because you told me a story I already knew, Rhett.”

“But I can tell from your face you’re not exactly impressed.” He rubbed my shoulder.

“I don’t want to think about you exploding in your pants and coming because some dirty stripper was rubbing up on you, Rhett.” I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “Would you want to hear about me dirty dancing with some guy and having an orgasm and no panties on?”

“What the fuck?” His eyes narrowed and his breathing grew heavier. “That did not happen, did it?”

“Would you want to hear about it if it did?” I sat back in the couch, quite enjoying the look of jealousy in his eyes.

“Hell no.” He frowned. “Did this happen? And when and with who?”

“Rhett.” I snuggled into his chest. “You know everything about me. Have I ever told you a story like that before? Am I the sort of girl that goes out with no panties on?”

“I’d like you to be.” He kissed the top of my head and I could tell that his breathing had calmed. “But yeah, no, you’ve never done anything crazy like that before.”

“But if I had you wouldn’t want to hear it right?”