Page 42 of Secrets We Fight

How the hell do I do that?

Use that sassy mouth of yours and figure it out

Was Rhett teasing me, or was he pissed? I wasn’t sure what to make of the sassy mouth comment, but I took a deep breath and continued toward where Rhett had been standing.

“I need to go in first,” Bernard stated.

“Of course.”

I let him do his thing and searched the hallway for Rhett. I didn’t see him, and I wondered how he planned to get inside with me.

Bernard walked out and held the door open. “All clear, sir.”

“Great.” I tried to keep my cool as I asked, “Can you wait at the end of the hall and not let anyone back? I, ah … need to blow up the toilet, if you know what I mean, and don’t want anyone waiting outside the door.”

Jesus, help me. I was lying about needing to shit all so I could have a secret conversation with Rhett.

“Sure thing, sir.” Bernard switched places with me, and I held the door open as I watched him walk down the hall.

Out of nowhere, I was pushed inside with a hand over my mouth. For a split second, I started to panic, but my eyes locked with Rhett’s baby blues and I relaxed. He held a finger over his mouth and then led me into the one stall in the men’s room.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered.

“I came to see you.”

“Came to see me or spy on me to see if I hooked up with anyone?”

He closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. “I trust you enough for that not to be a concern.”

A tinge of sadness hurt my heart. For several days, I had been trying to push him away, and he didn’t deserve that.

“I’m sorry.” I hung my head.

“For what?”

“I’ve been trying to push you away.”

“What? Why?” He lifted my chin.

I swallowed. “Because as much as I loved spending time with you and Poppy the other day, that could never be us. I’m just the guy you work for, and I figured it was best to end things sooner rather than later.”

He took a step back. “You’re not just the guy I work for.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do, but—”

“But I’ve had a change of heart.”

“Okay?” He arched a brow.

“Maybe there’s a way for us to be together and out in the open.”

“How?”

“The agency doesn’t expect me to sit at home when I’m not in school. Maybe I want to take a walk in Rose Kennedy Greenway Park, or take a drive to World’s End and go for a hike when the weather gets warmer. I don’t know, but I’m thinking we can make it work.”

“I like the sound of those things, but you know we can’t touch.”