“Definitely.” I was half tempted to tell her to come over now and most likely would’ve had my own place been all finished and ready. Just a little longer and I’d be out from under my parents’ roof. Not that I’d be much further, but I’d be out.
Chapter Thirteen
AJ
Chloe, Grace, and I exited the movie theater all singing the songs we heard through the movie, not caring the slightest who was around to hear us. We piled into my car and continued along with the radio until we pulled up in the driveway next to Rhett’s truck.
Kori and Maria sat on the front porch swing, along with Leann, Chloe’s mom. They all looked up as we climbed out of the car and began walking toward them.
You’d think I’d feel embarrassed to face them after the many times Rhett and I had been caught in compromising positions, but I’d never felt more comfortable and welcomed.
Rhett had talked so many times of his crazy loving family, and I had to admit, some of those stories didn’t quite have me convinced. That was until I met them all and got to know them. They were crazy, yes, but caring and kind.
Kori, Rhett’s mom, was such a doting mother that it made me laugh. Rhett was her boy, and I think he always would be no matter how old he was, yet she didn’t hover. They had this bond that I admittedly wish I had with my own mother. But Rita was anything but nourishing; after she divorced my father, she divorced me and Raven too. Over the last few years, we rarely saw her and rarely heard from her. It was nice to be around a family like Rhett’s. It somehow filled the void I’d felt at home.
“How was the movie, girls?” Maria was the first to ask, and almost on cue Chloe and Grace broke out once again in song. This time I only offered a smile as I watched the two of them wiggle and groove. They reminded me a lot of me and April; they were that close, like sisters.
I was just about to remark on the movie when I was lifted into the air and spun around in a circle. A loud embarrassing squeal fell from my lips and a deep chuckle sounded behind me.
Lowered to the ground, I spun around and looked up at Rhett, who smiled down at me. “That had to be that longest damn movie in history,” he complained, cupping my face and pulling my lips to his. He did this often, not caring who was around to witness his affection. At first it had embarrassed me, but now I was used to it and had grown to expect this very reaction.
“It was less than two hours long.”
He arched a brow. “I know, that’s forever.” He moved in closer, hooking me by the waist and pulling my chest firmly to his, then rested his forehead on mine. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“I’ve got running water, full electricity, and a floor.” The smile on his face was so cute, showing off the handsome dimple in his left cheek. “The only thing left is the trim and installing all the doors.”
“Which means?”
“I can start cleaning up the place and moving things in.” Rhett leaned in and stole another kiss. “It also means that I can fall asleep with you next to me and wake up the following morning with you still there.”
“Did you get me that second exit?” I challenged him, and he laughed.
“You don’t need it,” he sounded so sure, “because there’s no way I’m letting you escape.”
“Is that so?” He didn’t answer, just nodded, dipping his chin again to kiss me softly. Quickly, he spun me around and began backing me away from the crowd and around the corner of the barn.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered against my lips. “Are you sure you can’t stay with me tonight?”
“Raven’s expecting me at her place by five.” He pouted as he pressed his forehead to mine. “She’s planned dinner, and then tomorrow we’re going shopping.”
He continued to look at me, giving me his very best “feel sorry for me” look, which only managed to make me laugh. “You’re gonna be just fine. Besides, you have an entire apartment to clean.”
“Nah, the girls are doing that. They’ve decided that I wouldn’t clean it good enough.”
“True.” He gripped my waist and lifted me from the ground as my legs wrapped around his waist. “Someone’s gonna see us.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” So very true. “Besides, if I’m going without you for another twenty-four hours, I need to get a little sweetness to hold me over.”
His lips covered mine once more as he used the weight of his body to hold me up against the side of the barn. By the time he was done with me, he had me second guessing my decision to drive to Statesboro to spend the night with my sister.
***
“Is that your third glass?” Raven asked as she eyed my cup.
“Yes,” I said as I topped off my glass. “Is that your fourth?” We’d polished off one bottle and had since then moved on to the next.
“Maddison is on her way with another bottle,” Raven added with a shrug. “We’re home and safe, so why not get loaded?”
My phone vibrated on the table just before us, and before I got the chance to grab for it, Raven picked it up. “Aw,” she said while staring at the screen, “how sweet.”
“What?” I attempted to grab the phone from her hands, and she leaned back further to shield it.
“And a little dirty too,” she added as her eyes widened just a fraction. “I’ll admit, sis,
