“Always quick to judge. I see nothing has changed. Maybe you should try giving people the benefit of the doubt. Something you’ll learn as you get older. Not everything is as it seems.”
“Asshat,” I muttered under my breath, not wanting Josie or Freddie to hear me. Unable to stand the tension any longer, I got up and walked away. I wasn’t ready for the feelings assaulting me. It was hard enough seeing Rhett again. I thought I was over him. But clearly my stupid heart thought otherwise. Useless organ. The escape I had planned ended in the bathroom, where I locked the door and pulled out one of the books I stashed under the sink.
It didn’t take long for someone to knock on the door.
“Go away,” I snapped, not ready to come out yet.
“Schatz,” Oma’s voice sounded through the door. “Stop playing the insulted sausage. You weren’t very nice either.”
“I’m not a sausage. And he’s a guest. Shouldn’t he be nicer?”
“If you come out, I’ll make you anApfelstrudel.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Fine,” I huffed and got up, putting my book back.
Oma was gone by the time I came out of the bathroom and I could hear laughter coming from the kitchen. Traitors, all of them.
I sat back on my chair next to Rhett and picked my fork up, picking at my food. He let me eat in peace and entertained Josie while I finished. Even I had to admit that was really considerate. And he was amazing with her. Once everyone was done, I cleared the table. Rhett carried Josie around, letting her direct him from one toy to another.
It was sweet and I found myself watching them. I was doing the dishes, our dishwasher had long since given up the torturous task of cleaning the vast amounts we produced each day, when Rhett appeared next to me.
“I didn’t mean to insult you,” he said, low enough for only me to hear. He leaned in close, no part of his body touching mine, but the effect just as electrifying. I could feel his heat, hear his breath. My hands stilled in the soapy water.
“It’s fine. I’m sorry I was a brat.” There, that wasn’t so hard. Guess I could behave like an adult after all.
“I didn’t mean to insinuate that you didn’t want Josie,” he added and rested his hand on the counter next to the sink.
“No harm done. I need to finish the dishes so I can put Josie to bed.” I looked back at the sink and continued to scrub.
“Emmi.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’re good.” We so weren’t good. We were as far from good as I was from becoming President.
“Shouldn’t I be the one upset in this scenario?”
“What do you mean? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Really? You’re still not admitting you were too mad at me to call about Nate?”
Oh no he didn’t go there yet again.
“You still don’t believe me.”
“I forgive you. I already said that. No need for you to keep pretending that you didn’t do it on purpose.”
And that’s when I was done with this conversation.
“Get out.”
“Emmi, just –”
I stopped what I was doing and stepped away from the sink, clenching my fists, dripping soapy water all over the floor. “I said get out. I’m done with telling you that I didn’t do anything wrong. The Rhett from eight years ago would have believed me. You must have had one shitty ride to only think the worst of people. Now leave me the hell alone. Looks more and more like it was a good thing you disappeared from my life.”
Towards the end of my rant, his face blanched and then hardened. Expressionless stoneface was back. He turned and walked out of the kitchen. “Fine. I’ll see you tomorrow at work.”
“I don’t think so.”
“We’ll see.”
“Yes we will,” I called to his retreating back, trying to get the last word.
I finished the dishes, silently fuming and breaking a glass when I slammed it down too hard on the drying rack.
Oma made me Apfelstrudelthat I ate while it was still hot and smothered in vanilla ice-cream. At least one thing was going my way today.
