Rhett (Rhett #1)(53)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“Exactly.” Tomas sighed. “You gonna break her heart.”

“No, I’m not.” I sighed. “I think it’s over already, anyway.”

“What?”

“I messed with her friend that night.” I sighed.

“That bitch, Penny?”

“Yeah, Penelope. I titty f**ked her and now she thinks we’re an item.”

“Oh shit.” Tomas’s voice was awed. “A lot of shit gone down recently.”

“Yeah.” I groaned. “I f**ked up.”

“What you going to do?”

“Dunno.” I sighed and then heard my doorbell ring. “Look, bro. I gotta go. Someone’s at the door. I’ll talk to you later.” I hung up and walked quickly to the front and opened the door. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Clementine nodded and stared at me with a frown. “Can I come in?”

“Sure.” I opened the door wider and she walked in.

“You look beautiful today.” I smiled at her and took in her appearance.

“Cut the crap.” She rolled her eyes. “What’s going on?”

“What?” I frowned. “I can’t tell you that you look beautiful?”

“Last week I was Big Bertha. This week I’m Cindy Crawford?”

“I never said you were Cindy Crawford.” I shrugged and she laughed.

“Dude, I don’t know what’s going on.” She sighed. “Why did you leave yesterday and then ignore all of my calls and texts?”

“My phone was off.”

“Why?”

“I just needed to think?”

“Did I scare you?” She stepped towards me. “Is this too much for you?”

“Is what too much?” I stared at her in confusion. Was she worried about me or mad at me? Had Penelope not told her anything?

“I know you don’t want a relationship, Rhett. That’s fine. I don’t want one either. We’re friends with benefits. That’s cool.”

“That’s what you want?” I frowned.

“This is what is right for us. You don’t do relationships and, well, this works.” She shrugged. “I don’t need more from you.”

“I see.” I felt inexplicably hurt by her words.

“There’s something you should know.” She started and then paused for a second.

“What?” I took a step towards her and reached for her face, unable to stop myself from touching her.

“I got into Harvard.” She bit her lower lip. “And I got a scholarship.”

“Oh?” My heart stopped.

“So I can go.” Her eyes lit up. “Are you excited for me?”

“You’re leaving…” I took a deep breath. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’re happy for me.”

“I’m not happy for you.” I took a step away from her. “We said we were going to go through college together.”

“There’s only a year left.” She took a deep breath. “It’s not for long.”

“Why are you going then?” I glared at her.

“Because I need to give myself the best start.” She looked away. “I need a fresh start.”

“Why do you need a fresh start?”

“It’s just…” She sighed. “Let’s not talk about this now.”

“So you’re definitely going.”

“I have no reason to stay, Rhett.” She sighed. “We’ll still see each other. I mean, we’re going to graduate and go our own ways soon.”

“I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.” I frowned and walked to the couch. “But hey, blame this on me right. This is all my fault. Hey, Rhett doesn’t do relationships, let me keep him a secret. Hey, Rhett doesn’t want to get married, let me move away from him and go hook up in f**king Boston with my new jerk of a boyfriend.” I jumped back up and stared at her, her jaw was open in shock and her eyes were shocked. “But why the hell not? I don’t have feelings right? I’m just your sap of a best friend that goes along with whatever you want. Let’s watch slutty maids, sure Clementine, let’s watch a bunch of maids, let’s kiss, sure Clementine, I’ll kiss you. Take my virginity, sure Clementine. I’ll make it the best night of your life.” I stared at her. “But hey forget my feelings. What do I matter? I’m here just to make you feel better.”

“Rhett.” She walked towards me. “What are you talking about? I’ve never made you think that you were in my life, just to please me.”

“Why didn’t you tell Penelope about us?”

“Huh?” She frowned. “What?”

“Penelope had no idea about us. No-one does.”

“Rhett, what did you want me to tell them? Did you want me to text my entire family to let them know we became friends with benefits?”

“No.” I sighed. “No, that’s not what I wanted.”

“So then what?” She glared, her eyes what. “What did you want? What do you want from me, Rhett? I’m doing this for you. I’ve gone along with your rules. I’m doing things as you like them. I’m accommodating you.”

“I want you to want more than that from me. I want you to want more.” I muttered and looked away from her.

“So you want me to be like every other girl?” She glared at me. “Look at me.” She grabbed my arms. “You want me to beg you to be with me. You want me to tell you I want more? Just so you can freak out and then run. You want me to lose my best friend cos you can’t stand that I’m giving you what you want?”

“I want more.” I shouted and we both froze in shock. “I don’t want you to be my friend with benefits.” I spoke softly and her eyes looked into mine with a glazed expression. “I want you to tell me that you’re not putting up with my shit. I want you to tell me that you want to be more than friends.”

“Why would I do that, Rhett?” She sighed. “I know that’s not what you want.”

“I want that.” I grabbed her hand. “I want to be more than friends. I want you to be my girlfriend.”

“You don’t do girlfriends.”

“I don’t want to lose you.” I shook my head. “I need you to…”

“Rhett, this is because I’m leaving.” She sighed. “You’re just saying this because you don’t want me to leave South Carolina.”