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“Yeah, and now he’s just texted to say he has to go away for work.”
“Um, okay, is that so bad?”
“Maybe not? Am I overthinking it?”
“I have no idea. I’m the overthinking queen, so I’m no judge. You’ll need to give me more information. Does he say how long he’ll be gone for?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
“How often has he had to go away on urgent trips since this all started?”
“Never.”
“Oh.”
“I mean, I know he’s not interested in being a dad. I’ve accepted that. But there’s a big scan coming up and…What if something goes wrong and he’s not here?” My voice cracked on the last word.
Oh god, I hadn’t realized how much I’d come to rely on him. Every time I’d needed someone, he’d stepped up. It wasn’t even about the sex, as amazing as that was. It was so much morethan that. He’d been my perfect support person, always with the dumb jokes or the teasing. But also the hugs when I needed them and the encouragement and understanding. If anyone had told me months back that Rhett Rivers was much more than the shallow, playboy billionaire he appeared to be, I would have laughed in their face. He actually had a caring, sweet side to him, and he was so…reliable. That sounded so boring and mundane, but to me, after these past few months, it mattered more than anything.
But now, suddenly, he was stepping back. Leaving me. That was it. I definitely couldn’t hold back the tears anymore.
Cassidy reached behind her and, grabbing a box of tissues from the sideboard, dropped them in front of me.
“Thanks.”
I blew my nose loudly into the tissue, trying to get a grip on my emotions. Cassidy waited patiently, giving me a moment to get my shit together.
“Sorry,” I said finally, my voice thick. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m just feeling really emotional and overwhelmed all of a sudden.”
“Scarlett, you’re pregnant with twins and dealing with a lot right now. Cut yourself some slack. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed.”
I managed a watery smile at her understanding. “I guess I got used to having Rhett around more than I realized. He’s been... really great, you know? Supportive and caring in his own weird way.”
Saying it out loud made me feel even more pathetic. I was basically admitting I had feelings for him, of all people. Theman who initially represented everything I stood against - greed, disregard for the environment, privilege.
And now? Now I was attached to him in a way I never could have predicted. The thought of him being gone, of not having his steady presence by my side, made me feel so alone.
“I’m such an idiot,” I mumbled, swiping at the fresh tears leaking from my eyes. “Getting this worked up over him leaving for a work trip.”
“You’re not an idiot, Scarlett. Your feelings are valid, even if the situation is... unconventional.”
I let out a shaky laugh. “That’s one way to put it.” I stared down at my phone, Rhett’s text messages still on the screen. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m reading too much into this. Maybe he really does just have an urgent work thing.”
“But you don’t think so?” Cassidy asked gently.
“I think...” I started, then paused, feeling a fresh wave of hurt crest over me. “I think he’s freaking out about being a dad and he’s running away from it. From me.”
The thought of him just disappearing, of having all this distance between us...it was almost too much to bear. And I wasn’t talking about the distance from here to South America.
“Oh, Scarlett.” Cassidy’s voice was laced with sympathy. “I’m so sorry. You don’t deserve that kind of treatment from him.”
Dammit, I was so utterly drained from the emotional turmoil. “I really thought he was in this with me,” I whispered. “I’m such a fool.”
“You’re not a fool,” Cassidy said fiercely. “Rhett’s the fool if he can’t see what an amazing woman you are and how lucky he is.”
I managed a watery smile at her fierce defense of me. “Thanks, Cass. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”