Page 35 of Easton
Damn, I hate that mindset, hate writing off people the way Craig is doing with East. I’d hate it with anyone, but the way my pulse slams against my skin and my gut tightens even more is because he’s talking about East. “He was protecting a woman.”
“That time,” Craig argues.
“He’s not trouble.” It’s probably stupid of me to argue like this, but I don’t care. I’m not going to let him talk down about East.
“I don’t really care if he is. Was just trying to give you some friendly advice, is all. Ignore me if you want.” Craig shrugs. “I’m gonna head out.”
After Craig leaves, Martinez says, “Forget about him, Thorn. You know how he is.”
“He just likes to hear himself speak,” Jones adds.
They’re right, but a lot of people will look at the situation with East just like Craig does.
It’d be smart to nip this in the bud, to pull back from spending time with him and to keep our relationship on not only a platonic level, but more of an acquaintance as well.
But there’s no use even considering doing that because I won’t…and I don’t want to either.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Easton
Rhett: Hey. Just checking in to see how you’re doing.
My gaze keeps finding its way to the message. It’s the first time I’ve heard from him since all the shit went down at the police station. Most of what I know is what I’ve gotten from Morgan and Dusty—that Rhett won’t speak to them. He’s quit his job and is living his own life, something he should have always done. I don’t think Rhett has ever really wanted the things he told himself he wanted, but I do believe that for whatever reason, he needs Gregory’s approval to feel worthy. Rhett has spent his life fighting to become whom he thought he was supposed to be, and that day in the police station, in his spur-of-the-moment decision to stand up to Gregory, Rhett lost part of himself, part of his identity.
Who is he if he’s not Gregory Swift’s greatest hope? Even if in reality, Gregory would have never been happy with Rhett anyway.
Who is Rhett if he’s not trying to feel worthy by doing what Gregory wants? If he’s not the lawyer everyone looks up to?
He lost that because of me, and I’m sure he regrets it. The thought makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Why wouldn’t he regret it? It’s not as if I’m not going to fuck up again.
Me: Not getting into trouble if that’s what you’re asking.
As soon as I hit Send, I want the moment back. Wish I hadn’t replied the way I did because Rhett walked away from the man he thought he admired, for my sake, and this is how I repay him? Why is lashing out such a knee-jerk reaction for me?
You should go see him, Ella tells me.
I doubt he wants to see me.
How would you know if you don’t try?
I sigh and don’t respond right away. Having her in my head isn’t convenient, but at the same time, I don’t ever want her to go away. What the fuck would I ever do without her?
You should be closer to our brother, East. You have that chance, and I don’t.
She’s right. I know she’s right, and that truth makes me feel even more like shit. “Fine. I’ll go.”
“Hmm?” Dusty asks, making me realize I spoke out loud.
“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”
I continue working, but Rhett isn’t far from my mind the whole time. It’s my promise to my sister, to myself, that has me driving to Rhett’s house at the end of my workday.
He lives in the most perfect postcard house, with a porch swing and perfectly mowed grass and pruned hedges. Is there anything Rhett isn’t good at? That he doesn’t excel at?
I climb out of the truck and head to his porch. Just before I take the stairs, Rhett walks around the side of the house. He’s in shorts and a T-shirt, all sweaty, and with what looks like sawdust all over him.
He startles when he sees me, making it clear he hadn’t come over because he saw me pull up. “East, what’s wrong? Is everything okay?” Despite his shitty relationship with Morgan, it’s not a response he would have had to our middle brother. It just goes to show how bad I am at trying, at being there for people, that he forgets to be angry and forgets he doesn’t want to talk to us—all because he’s so surprised that I would set foot in his yard.