Rhett (Rhett #1)(27)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“Dad.” Clementine rolled her eyes and gave me a small smile.

“But we had nothing to be worried about.” Mrs. O’Hara patted her husband’s shoulder. “You two have always been so good. We almost forgot you were friends of the opposite sex.”

“Almost.” Her dad laughed. “I wasn’t about to let you guys have sleepovers once you hit puberty.”

“We still had sleepovers dad.” Clementine made a face.

“With the door open.” Her dad laughed. “And trust me, I didn’t want to let you have them.”

“We’ve been friends since we were little kids, dad.” Clementine rolled her eyes. “Nothing happened.”

“I know.” Mr. O’Hara grinned at me. “I thank God, that Rhett is a gentleman.”

“Thanks, Mr. O’Hara.” I smiled back at him.

“Though, I’m not sure why neither of you have dated?” He looked at us curiously. “Is one of you g*y?”

“Dad!” Clementine exclaimed and Mrs. O’Hara rolled her eyes.

“Come on, Hank.” She grabbed her husband’s arm. “Let’s go and see Jake and the others, while momma finishes cooking.”

“What did I say?” He laughed as they walked out of the kitchen.

“Dad is too much.” Clementine shook her head and spoke to Nanna. “I hope he doesn’t say anything crazy to Elliott.” She bit her lower lip. “In fact, I think I better go outside and make sure he doesn’t ask when he’s going to propose or something crazy.” She hurried out of the kitchen and I watched her go, before looking at Nanna.

“What?” I frowned as I realized she’d been staring at me.

“I don’t normally like to get involved in other people’s business.” She stepped towards me and looked up into my eyes with a serious expression.

“What do you mean?” I stared back at her with a puzzled expression. What was going on here?

“You and Clementine have been best friends for a long time.” She said softly and handed me a plate of brownies.

“I thought we had to wait ‘til later to have a brownie?” I smiled at her as I grabbed one off of the plate.

“I’m going to let you have one now.” She smiled and sat at the table and patted the chair next to her.

“Thanks, Nanna.” I grinned and had a seat. “So what did you want to talk about?”

“Elliott seems like a nice boy.” She started and I frowned.

“He’s seems okay.” I shrugged and took a huge bite of the brownie.

“He really seems to like, Clementine.”

“I guess.” I muttered, unenthusiastically.

“Clementine is ready to grow up.” She spoke softly. “I’ve been waiting for this day to happen. It’s come slower than I thought it would, but I suppose in the circumstances it’s understandable.”

“What day? What’s slower than you thought?” I frowned confused.

“Clementine is a true romantic.” She nodded to herself. “She gets it from me. I’ve told her stories about me and Hank Sr and how he wooed me. He was my true love you know.”

“I know.” I nodded. Nanna’s husband had died five years previously, but I could still remember what a great guy he had been and how he’d doted on nanna.

“She’s been waiting for her Prince to come find her since she was a little kid.” She smiled. “She wants the fairytale love.”

“It doesn’t really exist though.” I mumbled and she shook her head at me.

“Oh, Rhett. Typical bitter man.”

“I’m not bitter.”

“You know that things will change between the two of you once she gets serious with her young man.”

“You think she’ll get serious with Elliott?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.” She smiled at me gently. “I don’t want to see you getting hurt, Rhett.”

“Why would I get hurt?” My eyes narrowed. “I don’t want to be with her. We’re just friends.”

“Things will be different between you, once they get serious.”

“We’ll always be best friends.”

“Yes, yes.” She sighed. “What I’m trying to say is. Sometimes we don’t realize what we have until it’s gone.”

“You think she’ll stop being friends with me?”

“You guys have a very special friendship.” She sighed. “I’ve never seen two people closer in my life. You both play very important roles in each other’s lives. I don’t think ya’ll realize just how important.” She reached out and took my hand. “Sometimes the things we run away from are the things we already have.”

“I’m not running anywhere, she’s the one that’s trying to find a boyfriend. I’m happy with our friendship. I don’t need a girlfriend.”

“Maybe because you get everything you need from a girlfriend from Clemmie already.” Her eyes softened as she stared at me with a loving glance.

“We don’t sleep together, Nanna.” I laughed.

“Sex while important is not the be all and end all of a relationship, Rhett.”

“It’s a lot of fun though.” I grinned and she shook her head.

“It’s not for me to ask if you’re attracted to Clementine and I don’t want to stick my nose in where it’s not wanted, but I don’t want you to lose someone that could be everything you never knew you wanted.” She paused. “Sometimes God makes two people that are perfect for each other in every way. It’s always a shame when they miss the signs.”

“I don’t know that God always gets everything right.” I gave her a weak smile and stood up. “I mean what’s love really? And what’s perfect? Maybe his plans don’t always go to plan? My mom loved my dad more than her own life. She always told me that. She also used to tell me that I meant more to her than the moon and sun combined. And where is she now?” I shrugged. “Sometimes God’s plans don’t always work out.”

“I think he got his plans for you perfectly right.” She whispered behind me as I walked out of the kitchen and towards the backyard. I wasn’t sure what she’d expected me to say. Did she really think Clementine and I were perfect for each other? I stopped at the back door and watched Clementine running to catch a ball and throwing it to Jake. She was laughing about something and her hair was flying everywhere. I stared at her for a few minutes and watched as she moved and started chatting to Penelope. My breath caught as I watched Elliott walking over to her and I saw him giving her a quick hug. My body tensed as I realized that I was in serious trouble of losing my best friend and I didn’t know what do to. I wasn’t what Clementine wanted. I didn’t believe in happily ever afters. I didn’t want a girlfriend. I didn’t believe in true love. And I didn’t know how she felt about me. Maybe she didn’t even like me like that. I could feel a headache coming on. I watched them talking and I felt loneliness creeping in. Elliott was already replacing my role in Clemmie’s life. Her family already seemed to like him and I knew that a boyfriend would have precedence over a friend. I’d be inched out of this family, just like I’d been inched out of my own. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent a few texts. “Want to grab dinner tomorrow?” I sent to a few different girls. I had to stop relying on Clemmie so much. I needed to keep going out. I needed to occupy my time with other women. I knew that if I was getting my needs met by them, I would stop thinking about being with Clemmie. I wouldn’t want to kiss her and I certainly wouldn’t fantasize about being her. I put my phone back in my pocket, plastered a big smile on my face and ran out into the yard.