“Like I said, you’re brave, Kinsley.”
“I get jealous.” I look down at our joined hands, wishing I felt as strong as he thinks I am. “Sometimes, I just want to live in our old house, and I want my life to be the way it used to be—when my mom was alive.”
“I want that for you, too. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to go home and be on my own. Do you get along with your sister at least?”
I nod my head. Kate’s been my one constant. “We fight like sisters do, but we get along for the most part. It’s been different though, since she started working nights to make some extra money.”
“You’re alone? I had no idea.”
“No, I’m not alone. Carson’s home most nights. He was Kate’s doing, mostly. She has her sights set on a house after I graduate—one closer to Philadelphia. She’s been taking as many shifts at night as she can so she has more time to do school stuff during the day. I can’t fault her for going after her own dreams. Not when I plan on doing the same.”
“What’s in Philly?”
“Opportunity, basically. Plus, that’s where her boyfriend is originally from. They were in the process of moving in together when Dad left. She stayed for me and Wyatt, but I know she’s itching to get out of here. She sacrificed a lot for me which is why I tolerate her boyfriend.”
“Tolerate? He’s a dick?”
“Not usually, but he’s pissed she’s stuck with me. I can tell.”
“Kate’s your guardian?”
I nod my head. “Wyatt’s too—well before he turned eighteen.”
Rhett runs his hands through his hair, processing my reality. I dumped a lot on him tonight—more than he probably thought he’d ever have to hear. Even if it makes him uncomfortable, I’ll never lie about my situation. It’s not ideal, it’s even pretty terrible, but it’s mine.
“Please come with me to the festival, Kinsley. At least for those two nights, you’ll be with me—and I’ll know you’re safe. It’ll make me feel better about having to leave you here tonight.”
I open Rhett’s palm and without even realizing I’m doing it, I trace the pattern of a heart, over and over. “I’ll go,” I whisper. Finally, I get the courage to look him in the eye. “Thank you. It’s hard for me to accept handouts.”
“It’s not a handout. It’s a guy asking a girl on a date. That’s all.”
“A date, huh? An overnight date.”
“Yes, but if you’re not comfortable staying with me, I can bring a separate tent for you to sleep in. There’s no pressure. All I want is for you to have fun.”
I shake my head. “I don’t need my own tent.” If I’m going, I’m staying with Rhett.
“You’ll really go with me? You’re saying, yes?”
“We’re jumping right in, aren’t we? They don’t even do overnight dates on The Bachelor until the end of the season.”
“Don’t worry, by the time we go to the festival, my status will be changed in your contact list.”
I laugh, remembering how he’s listed right now. “To what?”
“Boyfriend,” he says with confidence. “We can change it right now if you want. I don’t intend on backing off.”
I sit starring at Rhett, slightly in shock. Okay, a whole lot in shock. This entire day has been unreal. When I woke up this morning, I was just Kinsley. Now, I’m sitting in Rhett’s truck, and he just asked me on a date. I’m pretty sure he asked me to be his girlfriend, too.
“Rhett, I don’t know what to say.”
He shifts in his seat, picking up on my uneasiness. “I’m not trying to scare you, Kinsley, but I can’t tell if you’re taking me seriously or not. This isn’t a joke to me.”
I hear what he’s asking of me—what he wants, but I’ve never had a boyfriend before. Rhett could end up breaking my heart. On the flip side, he could be worth the risk. There’s only one way to find out. Considering I never do anything halfway, now’s as good a time as any to go for it. For once, I decide to live in the moment, to take his word for face value—I hand him my phone without second guessing it. I want this. I want Rhett.
“Yeah? Seriously?” he asks, as he takes my phone. “You keep surprising me tonight.”
“I believe you. It’s really fast, and I had no idea my day would turn out like this, but if you want me.”
“You’ll be my girl?”
I nod my head. “Yes, I’ll be your girl.” There’s no use drawing it out. Before long, we’ll both be going our separate ways. I want to make the most of the time we have left. Whether we last a week or a couple months, at least we can say we tried. We’ll always have our memories.
“Hold that thought.” He types frantically at my phone, screwing up a few times before he gets it right. Once his contact information is the way he wants it, he hands my phone back to me.
I glance at the screen. “Your boyfriend.” Has replaced “Not just a Friend”.
“Clever,” I tell him, as my stomach does summersaults. Those are two words I never thought I’d see. He brings our joined hands to his mouth, and gives the back of my hand a kiss.
Holy shit, Rhett Taylor is my boyfriend.
“This is my favorite day of school.”
I smile. “It’s the first day of school, Rhett. It rarely sucks.”
“I got a flat tire last year. I also broke up with Mandi that morning.”
“Coincidence?”
“Pfft. Not a chance. She flattened it at lunch time.”
We laugh for a few more minutes, talking about nothing and everything at the same time. “It’s getting late. I don’t want you to get in trouble.” I may not have anyone keeping tabs on me when I come and go, but surely Rhett’s parents won’t like him staying out late with a girl. I reach down to grab my bag off the floor of the car, and Rhett shifts, suddenly looking nervous that I have to go.
“You said you had Becca picking you up in the morning, but can I come get you? I’ll call her if you want me to.”
“You can pick me up, but I’ll tell her. She’ll kill me if I don’t tell her you showed up at the diner. Then, she’s going to freak out when I tell her the rest. You don’t care if she knows, do you?”
He shakes his head. “We’re not a secret. Everyone will know tomorrow.”
I hadn’t even considered the reactions I’ll get at school. “They’re going to think you lost your mind.” It almost makes me want to reconsider—almost being the key word. I couldn’t take it back if I tried.
“If anyone gives you a hard time, you send them to me, okay? It’s me and you now.”
“Okay.”
“By the way, where do I stand with Becca? Is she still pissed about the dirt?”
“Yes, she is,” I tell him, as I laugh at the thought of her licking dirt off the ground. She’s such a germaphobe and now I know how it all started. “She also talks really highly of you. You left quite the impression on her.”
He stares through the windshield with a smile on his face. “I’ll be sure to thank her in the morning. I was such a little punk back then. I’m surprised she didn’t kick me in the balls—I deserved it.”
“Don’t tempt her. She would still cash in if she could.”
He cringes. “Good to know.”
We sit in comfortable silence for a few more seconds before I call it a night for a second time. “See you in the morning.” With my bag in hand, I reach for the door handle.
“Kinsley, wait.” Rhett leans over, and before I realize what’s happening, his lips are pressed against mine.
I’m having my first kiss, in a truck, with Rhett Taylor. His lips melt into mine, and he pulls away before kissing me a second time. It’s an innocent kiss, that doesn’t last more than a few seconds, but as wonderful as it was, I’m sure I did it all wrong. I might even smell like an onion.