I twirl around to Rhett, and he’s absolutely beaming, sending me into a melted puddle on the floor. We move in close to one another, and I have to quickly draw back, realizing the way his magnetism just seemed to pull me right in. I settle for giving him a high five before asking him to help me set up for the next one, claiming, “We have a chance. We have to beat my parents.”
“You’d take us down after we fed you and clothed you all these years?”
“Yes,” I deadpan, narrowing my eyes playfully at Dad.
Rhett sidles up next to me again, setting me up, and once again the ball goes in with ease. I leap into his arms, and he accepts me, holding me tight until our gazes meet and time stops. We sit there like that for a beat longer until we realize where we are and break apart.
He clears his throat and scratches the back of his head. “That was good.”
“I couldn’t have done it without your help.”
He nods, and the tension is finally broken when Mom announces, “We need to switch teams! I want Rhett on my team. Your dad is apparently a really crappy teacher.”
* * *
I tuck a strand of stray hair behind my ear as we walk out the door together and get our first moment alone for the night.
“Is there anything you aren’t good at?” I tease.
“Of course.”
“Really? It doesn’t seem like it to me. You play guitar. You cook. You bake. What can’t you do?”
“I can’t whistle. Every time I try, I sound like a dying cat.” He demonstrates, and I can’t help but laugh. Hedoessuck at it. “I’m also terrible at golf. I took lessons one summer when I was thirteen, and I’m pretty sure I’m single-handedly responsible for the instructor’s retirement that fall. And worst of all, I’m terrible at staying away from you.”
My mouth goes dry, and my head immediately spins with all kinds of thoughts, but before I can jump to conclusions, I ask, "Why do you need to stay away?”
“I don’t do love.”
“But why not?”
“I told you about my parents.”
“There has to be more to it than that. You can’t let your parents’ bad relationship stop you from having one.”
“Okay, well answer me this. Are you planning on staying in Roots?”
“I—no. I mean, part of me wants to, but it’s not practical.”
“Then you and I don’t make sense, right? If I have been hurt by love before, why would I want to start a relationship that is guaranteed to end and hurt me again?”
My stomach sinks. He’s right.
“What if you didn’t have to commit to love? Then would you let me in?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have an answer. I just know that I was disappointed when we didn’t get to kiss the other night.”
“Me too.”He steps closer, and I instantly feel the heat radiating off his body. My breath hitches, and I can feel my heart pounding out of my chest. He snakes one arm around my waist, pulling me into him and pressing his forehead against mine. “I don’t think I can do casual with you. You’re not the kind of girl someone keeps things casual with.”
“But what else can we do about this?” I press my pointer finger from my chest to his and back. “We just have to pretend we aren’t attracted to one another, that we don’t care for one another? I don’t think I can do that. I’m still here for over a month. We’re still living together. The cottage won’t be ready for at least another two weeks.”
“I don’t want to do that either.” He kisses the crown of my forehead, and I become increasingly aware of how hot it is outside tonight. He slowly brings his face closer to mine, and I stand on my tiptoes. The herd of elephants is back, stampeding through my chest when the porch light flickers on. Mom barges out the front door, and the two of us leap apart.
“Rhett, don’t forget your—” She stops, furrowing her brows as she takes us in. “Did I interrupt something? I can go back inside.”
“You didn’t interrupt anything. I was just saying goodnight.” Rhett turns back to me. “I think I have a solution to our problem. Will you come with me to Copper Hill tomorrow?”
