Page 66 of The One

I carefully tugged at the ribbon and tore the side of the wrapping paper, sliding out the velvet box. As I lifted the lid, he held the candle nearby so I could see the jewelry inside.

My hand went over my mouth. “Rhett!”

There was a thin, dainty silver chain with the letterRhanging in the center, made of all diamonds.

“Oh my God, it’s so gorgeous!” I rubbed my finger over the letter the same way I’d done to his tattoo. “You boughtme diamonds … are you insane?” I couldn’t hold back the excitement. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life and definitely the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me.”

He set the candle down and took the necklace out of the box, holding it around my neck and clasping it. “You’re permanently on my body, and now, when you wear this necklace, I’ll be permanently on you.”

The second theRhit my throat, I wrapped my fingers around it, my eyes filling with tears, and I leaned forward and kissed him. “You are my why, Rhett.” A tear left my face and dripped onto his, the single drop glistening under the moonlight. “And you will be for the rest of my life.”

FIFTEEN

Rhett

Fifteen Years Ago

When Lainey and I left the park and got into my car, the diamondRnecklace now hanging from her neck and the tattoo on my arm no longer a secret, the clock on my dash showed she still had thirty minutes before her curfew.

We weren’t far from her house; it would take me no time to get her home.

Before I turned on the car, I looked at her. I knew she’d had the best time tonight, that she had been surprised by everything I’d planned. She appreciated that I’d taken her to the park and brought food and her gifts. But underneath her happiness and the way she’d loved up on me, there was something eating at her.

It was Penelope.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get her sister off her mind. She was worried about what Penelope was doing at Elijah’s party, the unknowns endless since she wasn’t there tokeep her eyes on her twin. And she was nervous that Penelope wouldn’t get home in time for their curfew.

Before we had gotten to the park, I had given Lainey the choice of going through with our date or going to the party. She had chosen the date, and I believed that was what she’d truly wanted.

I also knew that if Lainey got home and Penelope wasn’t there—and she wouldn’t be—she’d feel sick until her sister showed up.

I had the power to ease that.

“Rhett, what’s wrong?” Her voice was soft, her hand moving to my face as I continued to stare at her silently.

It was obvious something was going on since I still hadn’t started the car.

“We’re going to stop by the party and check on Penelope. I’ll give her a ride home if she needs one.”

“Really?” I could hear the surprise in her voice even though her tone hadn’t gotten any louder.

But what had changed was her grip. It became more loving, if that was even possible, her thumb rubbing the side of my mouth.

“Yes, really.”

Even though it was dark in the car and we weren’t under a streetlamp, I could sense the relief in her expression.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

I linked our fingers together, and I pulled her hand up to my mouth, kissing the tops of her knuckles as I started the car and drove out of the parking lot.

“All you had to do was ask, and I would have taken you. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

Then, why didn’t you ask?

Lainey was doing everything in her power to stop mothering Penelope. She was trying to insert space between them, hopingthat would help when they separated for college and Lainey wasn’t there to oversee every move Penelope made.