disclaimers/tags: female oc. written as a reader insert but reader has a lot of backstory. slowburn. angst. cheating. implied domestic violence. minors dni.
a/n: idk i’m just kinda writing this story as i feel like lol have fun
right cowboy, wrong time
rhett abbott
part 1
summary: you’re not home and your boyfriend’s a dick. thankfully, not all cowboys are bad.
part 3
Danielle tells you Rhett came by the diner multiple times, only stopping once she finally felt sorry for him and told him you two traded shifts permanently.
Workings nights is shit. People are in worse moods, tired from a long day. There are more drunk teenagers and wandering creeps.
It was calculated.
He called Lenny and asked for the change. By the end of your work hours you were tired and unsettled, with your guard up. All you wanted was to go home, shower and read a book.
Whoever tried to butter you up would back off the second they saw your busted lip and sunken eyes.
Not only that, but the Abbott family were early risers. They woulnd't stop by the diner after 7 p.m., most importantly Rhett, who was already drinking by then.
Sure, he would have to be up late to pick you up, but it was worth the abundant feeling of power.
There wasn't much you could do. He made your life a little worse, so you had to sweeten him to 'gain his trust' back.
Sometimes he'll let you go to the rodeo. You'll snuggle up to him. Smile in between your kisses. Let him pick you up after he wins a bet and keep his hand in the back pocket of your jeans. You have new, appropriate boots. Pancakes are not your favorite breakfast anymore, keeping the blueberrys only.
You always leave before Rhett's turn.
Usually, you'll ask to go to the bathroom, claiming to have a full bladder despite not drinking at all. Call it whatever it is, but you like to go in the last stall that doesn't work, close your eyes and ask for the universe to protect him. And if he wins something by the end of the night, that would be nice too.
You were planning on hearing the gossip from the patrons who came in for late night coffee with rum as soon as the winner was announced.
You were planning on hearing the gossip from the patrons who came in for late night coffee with rum as soon as the winner was announced.
You were planning on hearing the gossip from the patrons who came in for late night coffee with rum as soon as the winner was announced.
Instead, you get to see the check in person.
Rhett walks in a sweaty mess, muddy boots painting the floor. For a moment, you truly consider hiding under the counter, in between the bags of flour and sugar.
Thankfully, Danielle was in need of extra cash and was covering some nights with you. She tells you to take a break and escape to the back.
Some other time you have to ask her when exactly she picked up that you and him meant trouble.
Sitting on the steps, elbows on your knees and hands over your eyes, you laugh when his voice cuts through the peaceful sound of crickets.
"I'm not here for a milkshake, you know."
The delicious twang of his accent makes you want to scratch at your own skin, then you'll have a perfect excuse for its redden tinge.
"Congratulations."
The metal in his boots clinks with every slow step forward, blue eyes defiantly stuck on you.
"How d'you know I won?"
He stops right in front of you, hands behind his back, toothpick in between sharp white teeth. Who knew you could ever like being leered at by a man nearly shoving his crotch in your face.
"You're enunciating your words."
Rhett cackles, throwing his head back, greasy strands of blonde hair sticking to his neck where a stubble grows. Fuck.
"You mean I'm finally oozing with confidence?"
Tongue playing with the toothpick.
"Or cockiness. Same thing." Shutting his eyes, he nods before taking a seat next to you, forcing you to scoot on the step, not bothering to contain the natural spread of his legs. "I knew you had it in you."
"The cockiness or the ability to win?"
You want to say both. You want to say you care more for the attitude, the talking back, the flirting. But your noses are so close, and his eyes are pretty…
So you simply shrug and smile, turning your head 180 degrees.
Deep breath in.
"I missed you."
Mumbling again.
"You know where to find me."
"You changed shifts."
"Collaborative decision."
Please understand. We can't.
"Leave him." Now, you throw your head back to laugh. "What? Why not? I'm not saying run away with me, I'm just saying you should do better."
"Oh, thank you for enlightening me." Frustration grows inside of your chest. You shouldn't even be talking to him. If any nosy patrons put together him walking in and your absence, it wouldn't be too hard for your boyfriend to hear about it and blow things out of proportion. "Do you honestly think it's that simple? Answer me."
He chokes under your fiery look.
"No, no, of course not." He squeezes the pair of gloves on his hands, before angrily slapping them against his thighs. Your thoughts shouldn't be going to where they are right now. "I just mean- It can't be worse than this? Away from home, your dream, your friends. Letting him dictate when you work, where you go and who you talk to. I don't know much, but I know you can't be happy like this."
A wrinkle forms between his brows and you desperately want to smooth it out.
He's had a couple of beers, that much is obvious, and you hope it's the right amount for him to absorb what you're going to tell him but also slightly forget tomorrow.
"I don't have anyone, okay? No one to support me. His dad helped me get into my dream school, pay for a comfortable life until I could hold my own. Eventually, I landed a scholarship for the final year. He didn't like the thought that I wouldn't depend on his family anymore, so he made me take a very long break, saying I need to focus on 'us' again. Consequently, I lost the scholarship. I still have a year left."
He's thinking, and you shiver with the night breeze. Terrified of what his mind is brewing, you clarify.
"It wasn't always this bad. Or at least I never saw it that way. We were high school sweethearts, for fuck's sake. We met when he moved to Boston on his senior year, his dad obviously holding high expectations for his college education. He was polite, and promising. And he liked me for who I was, not what I looked like. Little did I know he was grooming me into a fucking perfect housewife. Forget I said that- What I mean is that I didn't intend on leeching off of his dad or his money. I thought he loved me. And for someone who's never been loved before, that's a big reason to do things. Anything."
"What are you gonna do?"
He sounds so sober, and he looked so happy before you started talking. You keep nailing it, idiot.
"I was gonna though it out. Be here, on this break, for as long as he wanted me and hope he doesn't decide to break it off." You shrug and he winces, waiting for you to say the plans have changed. "But…I just can't. I'm tired. Luckily, a nice man helped me find a decent job and, along with some other money I have saved, I'm inching closer to what I need to finish school and pay for myself."
You're graced with a genuine, albeit shy, smile after your last sentence.
This time you don't hesitate before lifting a finger and pushing the stray slick hair behind his ear. His breath hitches, loud enough for you to hear and your heart to annoyingly skip a beat.
Reaching into his pockets, thin lips turn into a frown as he pulls out the winner's prize. A check.
"It's not much, but if it helps you get away from that fucking prick's grip it counts for something."
You jump up at the absurdity of his suggestion.
"Rhett, no!"
"I don't mind."
"Well I do! You earned that, you won it, it's yours. If anybody deserves it, it's you-"
"You didn't even see me ride, maybe my competition was shit-"
"I can't, Rhett, no. I'm doing just fine working here, I've got this. Don't."
"If you don't take it, I'll just show up here and leave it as a tip, maybe ten bucks a day. But I think there's a blonde nut who's not gonna appreciate that."
He's looking up, devilish smirk and devious eyes mocking your distressed state.
Standing, he puts the piece of paper back inside his pocket, and you sigh in relief. But soon he breaks into a squeaky laugh, and you're squinting at him. What is up with him tonight?
"What are you laughing at?"
Your arms unfold and your jaw slacks a bit when he tells you.
"You've never said my name before. I like it. Especially when you're mad."
He leaves, and you refuse to watch, still dumbfounded at everything that happened in the span of twenty five minutes. Which is a lot longer than you should’ve left Dani alone, so you force your brain to get back to life and run up the steps, back inside to help her with the drunker than usual crowd.
When your boyfriend picks you up, you pretend to nap all the way home, eyes shut so you can relive every electric instance between you and Rhett that night.
You blame exhaustion when asked why you took so long in the shower, turning off the lights so your boyfriend doesn't see your blushing cheeks when you remember the feeling of your fingers arching inside of you. It's a great night of sleep.
On Monday, an envelope full of cash waits for you at Lenny's office. His face says 'I don't even want to know'.
There's a note inside.
'Forgot your tip'.
—————————
Two weeks later, it's the 4th of July and the entire community is buzzing with small America glee.
Belonging wasn't a hugely familiar feeling for you, so you enjoyed watching everyone get excited to celebrate the holiday together. You considered calling your friends from school to check in on them, but figured they'd be too busy in their expensive vacation homes.
Lenny was not immune to the cosmic energy surrounding the town, giving you guys the weekend off. There would be a bunch of vendors all over, hardly anyone would seek out the diner for once, so he wasn't even bothering opening up.
You volunteered to take both shifts, but he called you silly and 'ordered' you to have some fun.
Wasting time around the mansion with the distant family of your boyfriend was awkward. His dad was the sweetest one to you, but from afar. His mom ignored anyone who wasn't her sons, and the boys were insufferable so you stayed clear of their way.
You were currently hanging by the pool, glad the boys were busy with work on the field and your mother-in-law dozed off after her third Long Island.
The sun is not too bright, there's a breeze and the calming sound of the pool cleaner going off. A book is open on your lap.
Rhett Abbott is the only thing your brain seems to want to focus on. For every paragraph you read, a slightly varied speck of blue from his eyes flashes through your mind.
You're scared of it, truthfully.
Of developing deeper feelings for another family boy, bull rider, youngest brother. They tend to not be good with…emotions. You're bad enough on your own.
It's worse, too, because you actually simpathyze with his family. Thinking about the uninhibited Amelia immediately comforts you. This is not good at all.
It wasn't the point. The future is not here, but in Boston, where you'll finish school and hopefully stay away from men completely.
Your phone buzzes on your stomach. You pick it up to texts from Danielle. She wants to know if you'll be at the fair this afternoon. Her kid wants to go on all of the inflatables with her school mates and she might need assistance.
Of course, you tell her.
The boys are more excited for the rodeo. There are no prizes or score keeping this time, just a celebratory show.
It's an excuse to get away from them, who told you they are not kids anymore and prefer to say home drinking until it's time for the real event.
Sure, it crosses your mind. He's an Abbott. He'll be there, undoubtedly.
All day, you run up and down with your coworker and friend, letting the other moms follow the kids on the Carroussel and the Ferris Wheel while you two quickly sneak away to drink sangrias.
You haven't laughed this hard in a long time. It's completely different from what you do with your friends from home, and part of you is endeared by it. A part you didn't know existed.
Shiree, Dani's kid, is one of the funniest little kids you've ever had the pleasure of helping babysit. Her mom says it's not from her (absent) father, so she's a natural, which makes you love her even more.
Later, the three of you are sitting at a picnic table, taking a break to eat terribly greasy and tasty food - your boyfriend would be repulsed by you right now and you consider eating more - when someone calls out your name.
It's Amelia. Her blue eyes are the size of golf balls, on the verge of tears, and her voice is so shaky it tears your heart in half.
Instinctively, your arms spread open and she walks right into them, small hands closing around the back of your neck. You smooth her blonde hair comfortingly, asking what's the matter.
"I can't find my dad."
Danielle sighs across the table, gathering your things quickly and lifting Shiree - who shyly waves to Amy - on her arms.
"We'll help you look, alright?"
You stick together, Amelia's painted nails digging into the palm of your hand, peeking over the crowd as you walk through the large field.
After a few minutes, you spot Cecilia, the matriarch, standing up next to a picnic table, talking animatedly to another family.
On your tip-toes, you point her out to the little girl chewing the inside of her cheek, relief obvious in your voice.
Dani and Shiree follow behind as you take Amy in the direction of her grandmother. On the way, you notice the rest of the Abbotts sitting on the table.
Amelia has to tug you forward to unstuck your feet from the ground.
Rhett's eyes are already drinking you in.
Approaching the table, you have an uncomfortable smile on your face, nodding at the men and choosing to explain yourself to the older woman.
"What is this? We sent you to get corn ten minutes ago and you come back with a group and no food?"
"Oh." She's not mad, clearly joking, but you're still confused. "She said she was lost."
The corn stand was right next to your table. Shiree was eating some. There was no way Amelia could have missed it. Why didn't she tell you to help her find it, instead of her father?
You're looking down at the child, who quickly recovers from her panicked state and shrugs before letting go of your hand. Danielle is holding her laughter next to you.
An older man, who you assume to be Royal, the boys' father, speaks up in a resounding voice. "Why didn't you call us? I gave you my phone for this sort of thing."
The blonde girl shrugs again, standing on her knees on the bench. "Forgot I had it."
Perry exchanges a look with his daughter, shaking his head, and you ignore Dani elbowing you in the ribs.
"Dad, can Shiree stay?"
"You mean, can uncle Rhett's friend stay, don't you?"
"Well, we can't tell her to go away, they came together."
Cecilia chuckles and pushes you towards the table. "You're clearly welcome, dear."
You're not so sure. Rhett's arms are crossed and he's not looking at you.
Conveniently, your phone rings.
"Hey." You're not sure you want your boyfriend to save you out of this one. It's been a good day. Immediately, he asks who's around and why you're not addressing him properly. "Sorry, baby, the signal is kinda bad."
Shiree has already jumped out of her mother's arms and found her place next to Amelia, both discussing which game to play on her grandfather's phone. Dani's making small talk with Perry, pulling two chairs to the table. You meet Rhett's eyes and he smiles softly.
"You know what? Really bad reception here. We're eating, Shiree found a friend…Just text me when you're ready to go. Bye."
You'll answer to your rudeness later. For now, you take the plastic chair next to Dani with a barely contained grin.
The next few hours fly by swiftly, it's almost sad. You have a great time breaking down Royal's strong man front alongside Amelia and Shiree, stomach hurting with how much you laugh at their antics. Cecilia tells you she hasn't seem him this open in a while, and you feel a weird sense of pride.
Dani, Perry and Rhett are on their own separate world. The latter doesn't exchange a word with you, despite a number of stolen glances throughout the afternoon.
At one point, Amelia jokes his favorite attraction is not the mechanical bull, but the tunnel of love (which they don't even have) and you can only imagine you're matching his pink cheeks. He blames his brother for the way his daughter freely mocks him.
All good things come to an end, and your phone pings three times in a row in your back pocket, and you know it's over. Taking it out, it's dark enough that the screen highlights your disappointed expression.
You get up, stretching your arms out, not missing the way Rhett's eyes follow the movement.
"My ride's here." You hug Amelia goodbye very tightly, before turning back to Dani. "Are you sure you don't want to come?"
"Sorry angel, she's tired, which means I'm destroyed."
Kissing her head and Shiree's cheek, you gather yourself to leave.
"I'll see the rest of you at the rodeo, I'm assuming?" The family nods, all a little tipsy. Stifling a laugh, you quietly but boldly turn to Rhett before leaving. "Good luck tonight."
He acknowledges you, a little surprised. But not more than you when he briefly takes your hand, fingers grazing in an awkward move. No one notices, and he turns back to the table immediately. You walk away with a smile and weak legs.
There's not much to do when you arrive at the arena.
Just a few hours after you left, the Abbots made their way to the stands, waiting to watch their son. Royal has a questionable look on his face when he notices who you're sitting next to and that pride you felt earlier goes down the drain.
You and him got pretty tipsy throughout the day, he at home with his brothers and you at the fair with Danielle, and neither of you are stopping anytime soon.
Being a city girl, you can hold your liquor. Your boyfriend, however, finally breaks into his clingy self. His hands are all over your body. You keep trying to push him off subtly under the excuse of talking to the group of girls with you but he's very persistent.
The boys sent the girls to get the next round and you're walking with them, excitedly nodding to one of them when rapid summer rain surprises all of you. Laughing at their groans and yelps, you lend the blonde complaining about her hair your coat and tell them to just go back to the stands, you'll get the drinks, it's fine.
While waiting, someone playfully kicks the soles of your crossed shoes. Heat spreads through you despite your soaked clothes.
"Got my tip?"
He's so close to you, speaking so low into your ear, breathing down your neck.
You throw a quick glance behind your back, tip of your nose an inch away from his, and you notice his half-lidded eyes. A smile threatens to appear so you interrupt it with a huff.
"You know I did. Dick."
He slides aside, leaning his forearm on the counter where you wait for the nice lady to bring your beers, playfully bumping you in the shoulder and looking up at you from under his hat. It's insufferably effective when he does that.
"Think you mean 'thank you'. Dontcha?"
You hate the way these types of western men garble their words. You hate even more that you want Rhett to get behind you again and tell you all the things he could do to warm your drenched body.
The two of you have been staring at each other for a minute, so you recollect yourself, meaning it when you thank him.
"Thank you." In your drunken state, you stretch the sentiment. "It's an insane person thing to do and I don't deserve how good you are, and it's secretly eating me alive…but thank you."
Blue eyes shine in what you hope is adoration, as he smiles at your excessive sharing.
The nice lady comes back with five plastic cups, and Rhett asks for one for himself. He calls her honey and you audibly scoff, another drunken confession of how he makes you feel.
Rhett moves his mouth to comment on it, but you cut him off, embarrassed about your momentary lack of restraint.
"Should you be drinking before your little show?"
His brows furrow at the dismissive tone, seemingly offended at how you referred to what he does for a living.
"Why?" You get hit by his smell - sweat, leather and fresh grass - when he squares up and steps so close his boots bump into your sneakers. "Worried 'bout me?"
"Fuck off, hotshot." He blinks at your crudeness. You are mad. Mad that he's openly pushing your buttons, and that it's working, and you're allowing it to. "Just don't fall off and break your neck. It would suck for Amelia to lose the best material she has for her future stand up comedy."
Rhett laughs, and the sound is incredibly gratifying. You're so drunk it nearly makes you moan in public.
You have no reason to still be here, talking to him. One of the boys will come looking for their beers anytime now. It would be best for you to leave and end this conversation before you dig a deeper grave. But it's so nice, to capture him. It's becoming addictive.
"As long as you stick around she'll have a great mentor for that mean sense of humour you two share."
"Are you admitting I'm funny?"
"I'm admitting you're mean!"
"Abbott, you're a baby."
"I'm sensitive."
He puts his hand over his heart, and your heads lean in, making direct eye contact. You're laughing, voices high-pitched, ignoring the lady bringing Rhett's beer completely.
When she coughs, you turn your head away flustered, and what you see makes your easy expression falter immediately.
It's your boyfriend, and Maria. Together, probably coming to check on the group's drinks. He's too gone to recognize Rhett from a distance, but Maria's eyebrows are furrowed and her step is uncertain, taken aback.
Seeing your boyfriend reminded you that you have one. And an image to maintain, for your own safety. You shouldn't risk Rhett, or anyone else, thinking that you're going to leave your boyfriend for him. That's not what's happening, despite what your silly heart desires.
Taking your cue to leave, you take self preservation too far.
"We've been caught by two confused people. One of which is very cute and seems unhappy she's not the one getting your attention, currently." Slurred words, moreso because you're trying to make them sound honest. Rhett furrows his brows and you have to hold back against smoothing them again. Unfair. "I mean bye."
You're picking up the five cups, uncomfortable with your own words, and start walking away before turning back, almost spilling the yellow liquid on the confused looking boy.
"Oh, and please don't get hurt. I'll hate seeing it. Make my life easier. You seem to like doing that anyway."
Before you can see his reaction, you're smiling big at your boyfriend and kissing him back, accepting his help with the cups. Maria walks right past you, nervous hands in her jeans' pockets. Even in your tipsy moment, your heart annoyingly insists on breaking a little.
Rhett has a bad night riding, while the family you came with has a successful one. And that means your boyfriend is being louder and warmer than ever, overcompensating for the many weeks prior where his insecurities were in charge.
He entertains people congratulating him for a few minutes, you under his arms, before whispering in your ear that he needs to go home to fuck you.
It's not exciting or promising, but he is still your boyfriend, you are still his girlfriend. This is an important reminder.
Later, you're trying your best on top but losing to boredom anyways when he comes down the side of your leg.
He's in the shower while you finally work on yourself, the scent of bodywash over your clean and still wet skin facilitating things for you. It's not your bed you imagine laying on, or your hand pulling your hair, or that it's yourself fucking your slick folds.
It's so wrong for you to think of the young Abbott boy when you just shoved him into the hands of another, beautiful, single woman. But it's the only face - and most importaly, voice - that gets your spread legs shaking and the knot in your stomach to release.
A name starts to slip away from your tongue before you catch yourself, covering your mouth with your hands and snapping your head towards the bathroom door. He's still in there and you pant back into bliss.
The bell ring pulls you away from your thoughts. Did they forget their keys?
Dressing up quickly, you walk into the bathroom and tell your boyfriend someone's at the door. He tells you to get it but that he will be right there, since it'll hardly be for you.
Your knees almost buckle when you open the door to find Rhett, holding the coat you had lended to the blonde girl when it started raining in the arena.
"Rhett, are you serious?"
You're curt, and it seems to upset him, genuinely. But what was he thinking, coming here? With your coat?
"I was just-" A hiccup. He's wasted. "On my way home, and one of the girls with Maria mentioned giving this back to ya."
He shrugs and your eyes widen in disbelief.
"And you volunteered?"
"Thought-" Hiccup. "'D be nice."
Rhett leans against the doorway, looking inside, and you have the forethought to push him back before he invites himself in. He grabs your wrist whilst you steady him on top of the entrance's mat.
Curious, you glance past him, checking for a figure on his passenger seat.
"Looking for someone?"
"No!" You reprimand him for his flirty tone. "No. You need to leave."
In that moment, Rhett notices the blonde man coming down the stairs.
Jesus. Your boyfriend's still dripping, in nothing but sweatpants and a towel thrown over his shoulder.
He strides slowly, pulling you into him with his arm around your torso. It's more than obvious what just happened.
It's no scandal. You're a couple. But to have Rhett see into your life together…You can't look at the stumbling - rather melancholic - mess under the driveway light.
"What's going on?"
"Coat. Brought her-"
"I gave it to one of the girls earlier, and she sent Abbott to give it back."
No way in hell you're letting him speak under these circumstances.
Your boyfriend agressively takes the coat from his hands, looking it over.
"It's ruined, I'll buy you another one."
A kiss to the crown of your head.
Rhett looks intensely at the blonde, eyes sharp and jaw set. He's shorter, slimmer, and drunk. For fuck's sake.
"Anything else?"
God, please don't say anything. Just leave.
Thankfully, all that unfolds is a headshake, his chin down. Before your boyfriend can rudely shut the door on Rhett's face, concern rules over caution.
"Drive safe."
You plea with your eyes, but he barely takes it in before turning around and stomping to his struck.
The door is pushed and you don't see him drive off, running up the stairs to lock yourself in the bathroom and continue your tradition of begging the universe to protect him.
—————————
Games were not something you ever understood. Your priority lies in being straightforward and honest, as much as possible.
Hence why you're wrecking your brain over what his objective is.
You're still on the night shift.
Lenny said you have been granted permission to change back, but Dani could spend more time with her daughter this way, so you denied. He would not complain, obviously, feeling like he had a tighter rope around your neck when you worked nights and spent mornings writing inside your room, within his eyesight.
What none of you could have predicted was Rhett Abbott coming in every night. For half an hour, ordering one cup of coffee and leaving.
The other girls rushed to serve him. He made them laugh and scribble their numbers (the ones he didn't already have) on a stained napkin. Old school, with proof of purchase.
He doesn't make an effort to draw your attention (he doesn't need to, turns out) and you leave him be. Neither of you owes each other a single thing.
One night, he comes in with Amelia and his mother while you're on your break.
Your wishes to go by unseen are ignored when the little girl waves, forcing you to wave back with a smile that does not please your boyfriend. He's sitting across from you at one of the booths, having popped by at your request since you needed a small favor.
Rhett, ever the quiet instigator, leads the girls to the booth after yours. If you look up, you'll meet his and Cecilia's eyes.
As naturally as possible, you cough and go back to your conversation.
"Ok. Like you said, it's short, but I don't feel confident dragging it on for a few more chapters. I haven't done this in a while and it'll probably just confuse me and it'll end up shit."
Amongst other things, your boyfriend was a critic. Showing him the story you've been working on is sure to provide insight, good and bad.
"I see that." He pushes your laptop back on the table. It sits between you, lighting up your features. He has something to say. "I just don't get it."
"The metaphor? It's a little wonky and shoved in at the end, I know, but-"
"No, not the story. I mean the point of all this. Why are you writing something no one's ever gonna read?"
Oh.
Stupidly, you had thought he would feel good about your decision to share this with him. Like you used to do before you got accepted into university. Fix what you broke this morning.
"Practice. Not letting inspiration, albeit short, go to waste? I don't know."
You're picking at the skin around your nails and he grabs your hands to stop the agitation. He notices you flinch, and sighs.
"Is this what's best for us? Writing…I understand it as a hobby, but you're not gonna have a career out of it so why bother?"
You blink.
"Can you just tell me what you thought about the story?"
Another disinterested sigh.
"Not your best, not your worst. Who cares?" His phone rings and he stands up, gathering his things. "Maybe you could help with the family business. In a position where you don't need to understand much about farming and whatnot. Think about it."
With a kiss to your cheek, he leaves you there, unmovable. Empty. He managed to not do the simple thing you asked of him and disencourage you of any future in doing what you love. You should ask Lenny about picking up extra shifts.
Amy's head pops up, hopeful eyes demanding you to collect yourself and answer her request. She wants to read your story.
If she heard, so did the other two.
Tears threaten to stream down your cheeks when you glance at them, anticipating their pitying looks. The nausea grows at the sight.
Closing the laptop's lid with automatic movements, you politely smile at the child before apologizing. "Maybe some other time. Okay?"
The remaining of your break is spent in the bathroom, looking at the words you had typed and debating if it's worth your energy to rewrite them into a better story. Maybe if it was good enough, one person could tell you to not give up, anyone.
When you return, the Abbotts are gone and you pass by the seventh crumpled napkin with prettily scribbled digits in the bin.
Just a few more hours before you can go home to a good book.
You're waiting for a fresh pot to finish brewing when he texts you. 'Find your own ride home tonight'.
It’s past closing time and you're still waiting for him to show up.
Lenny offers to drive you but you ensure him you'll be fine. He always picks you up.
Twenty minutes later, bright headlights shine through the windows. You can finally stop typing.
You're locking the front door, struggling with the lights off, when you hear the truck's door slam. You swallow.
"I don't need a hug hello or an apology kiss."
"Are you sure? I think it would help."
A shiver runs down your bare legs, voice making you shoot up and smooth down the dress, wondering if he saw anything when you bent over to try and find the lock.
"Seriously?"
Rhett smiles.
"How many times are you gon' ask me that?"
You don't concede yet. Crossing your arms and hugging yourself tighter.
"Why are you here?"
Dark boots prop him up to sit on top of the hood, popping gum into his mouth and leaning on his elbows. "He's been at the bar since I got there, right after I dropped mom and Amy back home. He's not coming."
The straps of your purse burn your palm as you grip them tighter, holding back the tears. Fuck how you hate crying.
It's hardly ever over heartbreak or pain, but frustration and anger. That suffocating feeling that you have no power. That things could be better, they just won't be.
Rhett has seen you break too many times now. It almost pisses you off, how often he has invaded your bad moments. You two are not intimate enough to peer into each other's vulnerabilities.
Wetness pools at your waterline again, mad that you can't even control his impression of you due to your overflowing emotions.
Your teeth hurt as you grit them together, snifling, fighting to keep your composure.
"He was pissed. No way he saw me." Need dominates his tone. Followed by bitterness. "A pretty redhead kept his attention elsewhere."
You can't stop the loud exhale that almost takes you down to your knees. Almost.
Again, it's embarrassing that Rhett knows all of this. Knows you let your boyfriend cheat, because you two haven't enjoyed each other in over a year. You don't love him, you don't want to keep him. Let him have his indulgences while you plan your leave.
He jumps back to the ground, raising dust when he walks to the passenger side and opens the door, circling back and taking his seat behind the wheel.
Asshole. Why does he make you feel like this? Like running to his car and driving away with no destination. Stopping at dingy motels. Making good use of the backseats.
You tell yourself it's just the fantasy of being with someone who isn't your boyfriend.
His car smells like sex and spilled bourbon, for fuck's sake.
In a beautiful instance of contradiction, he sternly orders you to put your seatbelt on.
A good bad boy. It's stronger than you, and you break into a fit of laughter.
Poor guy, he is utterly confused.
Pulling out of the diner's parking lot, he's fed up with your crisis.
"Jesus." His head is shaking, but amusument colors his cheeks.
As if instinctively protective, he leans over and pulls the belt across your body. He fits the smell in his truck perfectly, and his tanned skin is warm when it makes contact with your uncovered arms.
"That's better. Brat."
You don't have it in you to laugh anymore.
When asked if you're hungry, your stomach answers for you and he chuckles, making a turn.
(Don't think about the way the lights shine over his sharp features or how he sits lazily, comfortably directing the steering wheel with loose hands, fingers tapping the leather. Look away.)
You do. But then his head turns. His gaze is excruciating, and your thighs are sweating on the seat. For the first time today, you're glad to have picked out a sundress.
Rhett makes smarter choices and takes you to a drive-through.
You convince him to park somewhere and eat out of the car. You're a terrible messy eater and you'd feel bad about getting his car dirty. Sure, we wouldn't want that, he said. Fine, dirtier.
He lets you steal his fries even after you said you didn't want any. You hand him the ketchup packets. Your drinks sit between you on the hood, your ankles crossed, kicking your feet mindlessly.
"Feeling good?"
He licks grease from his fingers.
You hum, stupid smile stuck on your lips.
"It's ok to break the rules sometimes."
"Oh my God." You groan, throwing your head back and crunching the wrapping paper in your hand. "You think I'm a fucking prude."
He points to your drinks. His beer and your water. You roll your eyes almost cartoonishly.
"Beer makes me burp too much. We're not there yet."
His eyebrows raise at your possible implications. That you're becoming acquainted, warming up to each other. It denotes effort and will. Your brain wants to take it back, but your heart beats you to the punch and you shut yourself up with a sip.
"I'm more than my relationship, Abbott." His eyes say he wants to believe you. "I used to want to be a street car racer."
He almost chokes on his burger.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. But it's true. My friends and I used to skip class and fuck around at the autorepair shop down the street. Then the mechanics would take us to actually watch races. It was a lot of fun, I made some great friends, a couple of them taught me everything they could. You'd be impressed at my drifting skills."
"Wow." He laughs with his whole body. It's painfully cute. "What happened?"
You blink, taking another sip, pushing out the cruel reality. A name. "Everything changed after him. We spent long nights talking about academia, and the future, and education. I was good at school, but suddenly I had a real opportunity - hope- to go to a proper school. Develop my writing. I always liked it but it was pretty obvious to me that you either use your established wealth to build your career, or you probably die poor. He made it seem like I had support, at last."
Rhett repeats his question.
"I guess he never meant it, had his own disappointments. Life is never how you expect it to be. Happens."
"You never talk about your parents. What do they think of all this?"
You shrug. "Grew up in foster care."
Realization crosses his face. It does put everything into perspective.
"'M learning a lot about you tonight."
"Regret it already?"
His hand brings the bottle up to his lips, stopping just before as he pretends to consider it. With a generous grin, he shakes his head.
Silence fills the night as you let him finish his beer.
The breeze plays with your hair, dress trapped between your thighs to avoid an accident, spinning the rings on your fingers.
Breaking out of his laid back position, Rhett grabs your hand and turns it in his own, inspecting it. His thumb massages the center of your palm while he pretends to investigate every one of your rings. Then he stops, feels one of your tense nerves and opens his palm, it glued to the back of your hand.
We're alike.
Blue eyes seek yours, and you roll them again. His bruises are from riding undomesticated animals.
"Writing is an arduous job." To be fair, you can't always pull your phone or laptop at work to take note of an idea. The old pen and paper still play their role. He has one more endearing smile for you. Huffing, and pulling your hand away, you ask for the time. "We should go."
He simply nods, adjusting the hat on his head and jumping off the hood. He almost brings the trash with him to the car, before you cut in front of him and rip it from his hands, walking the very short distance to a dumpster. Honestly.
"Did you just separate our garbage?"
"That's what the signs on the dumpsters are for, princess." You tease him. He started it. 'Our' garbage. "Such a pretty head with nothing but air in it."
You climb onto the passenger seat and he chuckles, turning on the truck. If you don't look for a tinge of pink in his cheeks, maybe he will grant you the same kindness.
He's running through every yellow light and it makes you a little sick, the taste of fast food unforgivable. You remember something.
"Still have some of that gum?"
"Uh, yeah. Jacket pocket."
He points to the back seat. Unfortunately, it isn't dark enough in this town that you don't see defined muscles when his arms raise.
You reach for the plastic packet, popping a piece into your mouth, but something catches your eye. Plucked begonias. It's not a full bouquet, looks more like he grabbed them from someone's yard in a rush.
"What are these doing here?"
You're enamored with the delicate shade of pink. Until who they might be for crosses your mind. Honestly, you would get her flowers too. Half the town would.
"Oh, yeah. They're for you." You have never looked up so fast, glad the car has finally been stopped by a red light. Rhett scratches the back of his neck. "Uhm, Amy wanted to gift you something from our land. She thought about a million things before landing on flowers though. She hopes you like pink."
C'mon, not tears again. You're not even angry. The total opposite, actually.
"I do."
The light has turned green again, but Rhett is reluctant to drive. "You okay?"
You only nod, blinking the tears away and indicating for him to go.
He does, but he continues to glance your way every few seconds, pushing his hair back. You're messing with the hat he abandoned on the console.
"Look, I'm sorry. I have to ask. How's your plan going? How close are you to what you need?"
Jesus, did you give something away?
"Shit, maybe you can read my mind. Or you're psychic."
"What does- what does that mean?"
Dejectedly hitting the headrest, you don't even think twice before sharing. It's unlike you but you don't deny yourself the relief.
"Don't be…judgemental. But. He needed help and I helped him."
He's confused. "You helped him…?"
"He needed some money and I gave it to him."
"What?"
He runs past a stop sign and you scold him, slapping his midsection with his own hat.
"Not all of it. A part."
"He's rich!"
If it weren't so ironic, it would be funny. It's the same exasperated reaction you had when your boyfriend begged you this morning. It was the reason you two fought, and why you were trying to make amends with the draft of your story. Clearly, it wasn't enough.
"He's in a lot of debt with his business ventures, alright? And, it's for his dad! You know medication is criminally expensive in this country."
The older man was very sick. Everyone budged in as much as they could to help. They might be weird fucking people, but they are a family.
"So you paid for his share. Do they even know? Or did he use you to keep his good son image too?"
You don't say anything. Of course he doesn't deserve it. You should've said no and dumped him right there. But you do owe his father a lot.
"I didn't use the money you gave me. I took it out of the extra shifts money. And I'll pay you back for the food tonight."
He stutters, looking at you with an undescribable expression. "I'm not mad about that! And don't you dare 'pay me back'. I took you out to eat, I'm not buying you out. Did he fuck you up this bad?"
Your mouth opens to answer but it's not worth it.
Rhett bites his own hand, letting a beat of silence befall you before improvising a U-turn in the middle of the street and speeding.
"Hey, what the fuck?"
Your voice is soft, confused but not entirely put off by the speed. Your boyfriend drives fast all the time, but he gloats too much, it takes away the fun for you. Rhett is also better at riding. The two things are probably not as correlated as you want them to be, but it does imply better control.
You trust him more, is the point.
(The thought terrifies you as much as it is exciting. Kind of like his driving right now.)
Another red light. Awareness dawns on him. He turns to you, quiet and a little unlike himself, but determined.
"You don't have to go home tonight. Fuck him. Do you want to go home?"
You don't need time to consider. "No."
"Okay."
Bright green reflects off his face and he's speeding again, taking you somewhere you hope is not his home.
He finally pulls up to a small neighboorhood. A blue little house, innocently sitting amongst brighter and bigger properties.
The ignition is switched off.
"It's a friend's, he's out of town."
Before you can acknowledge it, he's grabbing the hat from your hands and stepping out of the car and opening your door. He looks up and down the empty, quiet street. Anywhere but you.
You forget the begonias.
Rhett picks a key from the flower pot, poorly hidden in the decorative rocks.
It smells good inside, like fresh laundry. It hasn't been left uninhabited for long.
"I'm surprised to hear you have friends."
He frees the space in front of the sink for you to wash your hands as well, but throws the paper towel roll at you before you can. You catch it, defying his poor throw with a look.
"Don't push it."
"I mean it. I never see you with anyone outside of your family. Except for-"
Why? Why did you start that sentence?
For a moment, all you hear is the water running.
"For?"
Ah, shit. You close the tap, cringing and breathing in deeply before turning around and looking for the paper towel you could've sworn you just put down.
"Maria."
You drag the name out. It comes off more suggestive, and less teasing. You're blowing this, trying to sound like a friend picking on him but reaching more into a creepy side. At least your avoidant eyes find the towels.
"What do you know about that?"
Ice cold. You shiver.
"I have eyes."
Neither of you show signs of kidding. You overstepped.
"Sorry, I shouldn't-"
"Is that why you act weird when you see her? Why you left, that day at the rodeo?"
You cringe again, hearing your nervous laugh.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb, kitten. We both know that you're not."
"What did you just call me?"
Bite the bait.
"Answer me."
Fuck. His posture is too intimidating for you to fight against.
"I mean, sort of. Yes. I'm giving you two privacy." He scoffs, shaking his head. "Are you mad? Jesus, Rhett. I'm not making fun of you. It's a crush. It's sweet."
Dirty boots ruin a pristine floor, Rhett stopping inches away. A hand runs down his face.
"Did Perry say something?"
"Amy. Who was told by Perry."
He huffs humorless.
"Who needs enemies…"
You snicker at his childishness.
"Relax, hotshot. Damn, I see what he means now, you are scared of her! I get it, she's hot."
"Scared?" He squints at you, but his voice cracks. He steps closer and you push back against the sink, your dress rises an inch. "Do I look scared now?"
You remember him calling you a goody two-shoes earlier. Out of (stupid) pride, you won't give him the reaction he's expecting, fuck that. So you push back.
"Of course not. It's different." His arms are now trapping you, asking for elaboration. You look him up and down, raising your eyebrows before scoffing and rolling your eyes, challenging. You look away, then slow blink back to him. "Maria is a beautiful, single woman who has known you forever. There are stakes. It's real."
"And you?"
The tip of his nose is brushing yours, but you refuse to be the submissive one (for now) and angle your head up, lifting his along. It's like a dance, enticing and reckless.
Whispering is more appropriate.
"You and I are friends." Your lips are parted, tongue hitting your teeth provocatively, leaning your head back and he follows in a daze. You have to hold back laughter. "I have a boyfriend. You can't have me. It's playing with food you're never gonna taste. Meaningless."
At the last word, it's as if you were a robot being reset. You straighten up, pat his chest and push him off, walking towards the door. You can't possibly hang around him after all that. And did you actually think you could spend the night somewhere that isn't your boyfriend's house without consequences? You're in enough trouble as it is.
From the same spot in the kitchen you two were completely sharing seconds ago, he calls your name. It's breathless.
"Stay."
"Am I your dog?" You laugh, but he doesn't. His hand is closed in a fist.
"I can't offer many of the things he provid- Actually, fuck that. What does he provide? His daddy's money? I know you don't actually care about that. So, what? Fear, dependence, pain? I could go on."
"Please don't."
You get it. He's right. Most men can do better than that, and the money was only another factor that allowed him to control you, you've abdicated from it as soon as you got the waitressing job.
"I'm not saying you should be with me-"
"I know, you mentioned."
He winces at your sudden change in demeanor, less apologetic. It agitates him, and he powers forward. This time, you don't step back.
"But I can make you feel good. Don't you think you deserve that?" No. You don't. This is wrong. It doesn't mean you don't want it. "And before you can say it, no, it's not a favor. I want it as much as you."
You almost drop to the floor with the shock of his sentence.
"Who says I want it?"
You're stalling, flight or fight instinct taking time to boot up.
He laughs. At you. God, do you look cock deprived or something?
"Are you gonna say he satisfies you?"
"Are you gonna say you can?" Before he can answer, you cut him off, serious again. "Look, I'm not going to do what he does. It's not me."
Rhett looks, somehow, more baffled.
"You're not…like him. This is not the same thing. Tell me you understand that."
"Cheating-"
"On the guy who abuses you."
He's holding your arm, caressing old bruises that haven't healed yet, but he's looking at you. Deep into your soul.
Terrible time for your eyes to tear up again. You're overwhelmed with desire and conflict, afraid of how you might feel after but desperate to let go.
Calloused thumbs dry your face. He's so close…
"Abbott, turning into one of your girls is the last thing I wanted, for the record."
A cheater and a liar, all in one night.
"You're the one in a relationship. If anything, I'm one of your boys."
You gasp, pushing back on his hand around your neck and furrowing your brows at him. "You're fucking revolting."
"We'll see about that. Shut up, would you? Damn."
The latter is basically said into your lips.
His other hand has risen fron your shoulder, to your neck, and finally your jaw. More eager than you were ready to admit, you don't waste time and open your mouth for his tongue to slip in. It hasn't been ten seconds and you're both breathing heavily.
You bite his lip and he sucks on your tongue, a surprising minty taste. That's when you feel Rhett practically pick the gum you forgot you were chewing from the back of your mouth and turn away to spit it out.
He catches the roll of your eyes.
"Does everything prick your sensitive fucking fingers, princess? I'll show you how to be less pent-up."
The tip of his hat bumps your forehead when he picks you up, setting you down on the little table by the entrance hall after knocking everything to the ground.
His lips barely leave yours, which is a shame, you wish you could see if his eyes were blown out.
The table rocks against the wall and you notice him buckle when it grazes his crotch. Bless those thight fucking jeans.
"Rhett. Underwear."
Your hips lift so he can pull them down your legs, easily pushing the fabric of your sundress until you're exposed. He doesn't hesitate to run two fingers along already slick folds.
You fist the thin material of his shirt, head dropping to hide in his neck when he pushes them inside. "Fuck. It's better than mine."
He growls, and it's so important to you, to hear this low speaking, timid, ungiving cowboy lose himself under you.
"Tell me." You already know what he's going to ask. With your forehead still stuck to his collarbone, your hands fly to his belt, pulling him forward before you can start unbuckling him. "You've thought about this, haven't you?"
You stop just before pulling him free, fingers crooking inside his boxers. Your head rises enough that you can whisper in his ear.
"Well, someone's gotta help me finish."
Like that, his free hand that was pressing your breasts moves to your throat, bringing you back to where he can push his tongue down it.
He pulls his own underwear off, slowly removing his fingers, swiping them up and circling your clit. You hiss into him and he chuckles. You finally open your eyes. Yeah, the blue outline of his pupils is very thin.
Your smile props him to bunch up your dress and pull you forward.
Before he can fuck you, you're asking that he fullfils one (please, just that one) of your wishes. And like magic, he reads your mind once more.
The hand that was lightly placed around your throat slides to your neck, grabbing a fistful of your hair and pulling on it. You could fucking cry.
He probably notices, you're not hiding anything from him, and when he thrusts into you, it's unforgiving.
The sounds that come out blend perfectly in the air. Maybe he wasn't lying, and he did want this as much as you. It's not too unbelievable that he was letting all of this want build up, not used to meeting a girl and not fucking her the same night.
He slaps your clit twice and you cuss him out. "Still with me? Good. Thought I lost ya."
"Suddenly, so many words to say. Fucking move, Rhett."
A tug to your scalp. It's delirious.
"My name…when you're mad…I'm gonna fucking jerk off to that. Again."
Your eyes widen at the last minute revelation, with little time to properly tease him because he's finally moving. And, fuck, it's heaven.
You're so tired of being embarrassed in front of him but this is truly the last thing you can control. Your walls are tightening faster with each thrust. It's not gonna take too long.
"Rhett, I'm s-sorry. I'm close."
His left hand keeps switching from your hips to your ass, squeezing as much skin as he can grab.
"Good. That's the point." He stops moving to look at you. His eyes are once again taking your breath away, even when they are this dark. "Don't apologize. Tell me what to do."
It might have been too intimate, but you take his lips in a quiet, soft kiss. "Just keep moving. Faster."
He takes a second to follow your instructions, but when he does, it is so obedient your arm pushes the hat off his head so you can embrace him and grab more of his hair, bringing him closer.
His forehead is drenching your neck in sweat, your fingers gripping the thick blonde strands, his a little more lazily tugging on yours. He uses his hold on your hair to angle your bodies better, forcing you to sink down on his cock as he shoots up.
Your hips loudly knock against each other, the table still battering the wall.
It's coming, your legs and abdomen straining, cooing in his ear. His arms are probably burning.
Two seconds later and you hit your climax together. It's the loudest you have ever heard him be.
You're hugging him tight, face hiding in his neck again, body spasming. It shouldn't be such a surprise when tears slip out of your eyes.
He's still panting, soothingly running one hand up and down your back, the other scratching your scalp after brutally pulling on it.
You pull back, and his eyes widen a little at your wet face. "Did I hurt you?"
"Get over yourself."
He laughs while drying your face for the upteenth time.
"I don't know, I never made a girl cry during sex before."
"Now that, I highly doubt."
You finally say something that gets him to roll his eyes, and he clearly doesn't do it often. His hand squeezes your hip as he pulls out, and warm fluid spills down your legs.
"Shit."
He realizes at the same time as you.
"Oh, uhm, the bathroom. Last door down the hallway."
"Shit!"
You don't mean to make him feel bad or guilty. Both of you forgot. You push him aside and jump off the table, awkwardly strutting to the toilet.
You pee and dry yourself the best you can, but there's no way you're fucking sleeping tonight.
The water out of the sink is thankfully ice cold as it drips down your face, neck and chest.
When you return to the living room, Rhett is chewing on his lip, staring at your underwear he must have picked up and put on top of the cushions on the couch.
You pick it up.
"Can you…?"
He turns around. It's silly, of course, but even with his back turned, your skin is burning.
The walk to the car is short and everlasting at the same time.
Thinking that you truly just used his friend's place in the middle of a nice residential street to secretly fuck and leave is insane. He didn't even consent to it being used for that. He didn't even know you. Did this happen before, with other girls?
You don't look up when he opens the passenger door, lost in your thoughts. As soon as it slams shut, you put your head in your hands and groan, fixing yourself before Rhett climbs inside too.
It's after four in the morning when he slows to a stop outside of your so called home.
The words come out too fast.
"We use protection. Him and I."
"Okay."
"Just- Because obviously he fucks other people on the side, and I don't want you to worry about getting any- uhm, anything."
He rolls his eyes and this time it doesn't seem lighthearted.
"That's great."
Another beat, and you can't shut up. "Do you? I know it's not my business but you did just- inside me…and you, allegedly, sleep around so I think-"
"You have nothing to worry about. I promise."
He doesn't take your word-vomit too well. Fist covering his lips, side-eyeing as you gather your purse from the backseat. You make sure to grab the begonias before unlocking the door and hopping out.
Your three second long debate about whether or not you should thank him becomes irrelevant the second you turn to shut the door and he's not looking at you.
So you let him go, shaky legs carrying you inside the silent mansion.
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