The easy way he clasps my hand in his makes me giddy, and I tell myself to chill. This is no big deal. Being with Rhett like this could actually happen if I let it. But I need to come clean.
Maybe I should now, at lunch? Before Thanksgiving, so he at least knows what Diane means to me? What he means to me? That, in all actuality, he’s my stepbrother?
Yeah. So weird. I’m attempting a relationship with my stepbrother. I sound like some girl straight out of a romance novel, right?
“Everyone’s shopping for turkeys and mashed potatoes,” I tell him, trying to keep my voice light, all while my head is swimming with potential conversation starters.
Hey, Rhett, I have something I need to tell you…
Yeah, no.
This is no big deal, but hey! I’m your stepsister!
Talk about shocking.
Diane may be your stepmom, but she’s my actual mom. Like, for real.
There is no easy way for me to tell him this. Easing into it seems the best tactic, while blurting out the facts over lunch might be the easiest. Like pulling a Band-Aid off, you know? Quick and easy and relatively painless.
Well, somewhat painless.
Fine, it’s going to hurt no matter what.
“You okay?” Rhett asks me as we enter the sandwich shop. There’s a line at the counter, and we stop almost just as soon as we walk in. When I shoot him a questioning look, he continues. “You seem distracted.”
“I am, a little.” But I can’t admit why while we wait in line to order. This is the last place I can drop my truth bomb. “Still thinking about what Park did yesterday.”
That’s also true. I still don’t understand what Park is up to. I usually have guys like that figured out. But he’s like a big question mark in my head. I don’t know what he wants from me. Or what he wants from any of us.
Rhett’s entire face goes tight. “I’m going to talk to him later.”
“What? No.” I cling to his arm, gazing up at him. He’s the tallest, handsomest guy in the restaurant, and I’m aware enough to know I’m so damn lucky to have him in my life. But I can’t have him going to his big brother and confronting him. It’ll make the entire situation an even bigger mess. “Let it go. Pretend I never told you.”
“I want to, but I can’t, Jens. He’s up to something and I want him to know I’m on to his game,” Rhett explains through thin lips.
“So what is his game then?”
He takes a deep breath and glances around the place. It’s packed—the tables are full and there are people milling about everywhere. Definitely not the right time to talk about this. “I’ll tell you what I know later.”
Curiosity makes me stand a little straighter. Hmm, so he knows more than he’s let on? Interesting. I always thought I was the secret keeper, but maybe Rhett is too.
Maybe he has more secrets that I haven’t found out yet.
We order our lunch, and Rhett pays because he’s a gentleman and I’m broke. I take both our soda cups and fill them while he waits at the counter for our sandwiches, and when I’m done, I go in search of a table. I’m about to sit at a small one near the front door when I hear an unfamiliar voice say, “Jenny Fanelli, is that you?”
I whip my head around in horror to find a blast from my past standing directly in front of me, a wide smile on his face.
Yes, his face. Some forgettable boy I went out with for a while, during our senior year. He was cute and drove a truck, and he happened to fuck me in the back of his truck whenever he got the chance. I let him, because he offered up a taste of freedom, you know? He’d tell me he had big dreams, playing baseball for the pros and a bunch of nonsense like that. I nodded along with his stories, wanting to believe him, but the practical, jaded side of me said no way was that ever going to happen.
And clearly it didn’t. Mike Storm—yes, his name is perfect for a pro athlete, right?—is staring at me with bug eyes, like he can’t believe he found me.
“Hey, Mike. Funny running into you here,” I say weakly.
“Damn girl, you look great.” He yanks me into his arms and holds me close, his fingers almost but not quite resting on my butt. The jerk.
I carefully pull myself out of his embrace, trying to keep my distance. “You look good too. What brings you here?”
“Ah, my girlfriend’s family lives nearby. We’re here visiting for Thanksgiving, and I volunteered to grab sandwiches for lunch.” His gaze roves over me, lingering on my chest. “I almost forgot about you.”