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“Decker—” I start to say.
Rhett opens my door, interrupting me, and flashes me a small smile. “Hello, Cara.”
“Hey, Rhett. You look like shit,” I blurt out, unable to help myself.
“I’ve missed you too,” he says with a laugh, before I get out of the car. I stand next to him as Decker, Clover and Felix join us.
Rhett opens his arms to me, and I fall into them for a moment, before pulling away. I can feel Rhett’s eyes on me, and I can feel beautiful green ones on my back. I don’t know what to do to make them both happy, and to let them know that I do care about both of their feelings, so I’m a little awkward with my interaction.
“You’re all good?” he asks, and I nod.
“You?”
He shrugs. “I look how I feel.”
He then shakes Felix’s hand, and then Decker’s, their eyes catching and holding for a few seconds. Their handshake looks like they are both squeezing for dominance, and I want to tell them both that we don’t have time for this shit right now.
Rhett smiles at Clo next, then wraps his arms around her. “I’m sorry you guys have had to deal with this, but I’m here now.”
Clover glances around. “No backup?”
“They’re coming,” Rhett replies, glancing toward the warehouse. “Let’s hope he keeps his word and we all don’t end up in a big brawl.”
Felix and Decker start discussing something and Rhett pulls me aside quickly to have a chat.
“We need to talk.” He looks angry, and I’m not used to seeing that look from him.
“What?” I ask.
“I can’t believe you,” he murmurs, shaking his head and looking behind me at Decker. “We haven’t even been broken up a month and you’re already in love with someone else? Was our whole relationship just meaningless to you? I feel like I don’t even know you anymore.”
“Rhett—”
“Look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t love me, Cara,” he demands, looking straight at me. He cups my chin with his fingers and leans in closer. I move away, because Decker is in my line of sight and I can see his eyes on us. I don’t want him to see Rhett touching me. “I bet you can’t.”
“Do we have to have this conversation right now?” I ask him, glancing toward the warehouse.
“Yes, we do. I do,” he replies, and I know he’s not going to let it go,
I don’t know how to explain this to him without hurting him, which is the last thing I want to do. But if I want to be with Decker peacefully, I need Rhett to understand we are over. I should’ve done it the last time we had this talk, but I was confused then. I shouldn’t have told him that what is meant to be will be. I need to tell him the truth: that we’re never getting back together.
Cue Taylor Swift.
“I’ll always love you,” I say, keeping my tone gentle. “But I’m not in love with you anymore, and I haven’t been for a long time. And you know this. You don’t love me like that either, Rhett. Like a friend, but not like a lover. You wouldn’t have cheated on me if you loved me like that. And I deserve that love. We know each other so well; we have so much history and so much love for each other. You are my first love, but we aren’t meant to be together. Not now. Not ever again.”
He squeezes my chin gently and then lets go, leaning back with a grimace. “If I don’t love you like that, then why does seeing you move on hurt so much?”
“Because we always thought we’d end up together?” I guess, resting my head on his shoulder. “I know that I always thought you’d be the only one for me. But things change, people change. We grew apart, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“When I was away, I knew I had fucked up and I wanted to make things right with you,” he admits quietly. “I guess I don’t know how you are letting us go so easily. Why aren’t you fighting?”
“Because I was fighting for months that we were together. I knew we lost the fight a long time ago. I was fighting, and it was draining, Rhett. I shouldn’t have to fight so hard to be with the man I’m meant to be with.”
He closes his eyes for a second before reopening them. “I will always love you.”
“And I you.”
But Rhett will always love the club more.
