I’m Rhett.
I’m cocky because I can be. I’ve got it all: the looks, the money, the endurance. I’m the guy that every girl wants to be with, yet none of them have ever been able to tie me down.
I don’t do love. I don’t do relationships. And I sure as hell will never do marriage.
I’m all about the fast life and everything that entails. There’s a different woman in my bed every week. My friends are jealous of me. My enemies envy me. Everyone wants my life. And everything in my life is absolutely perfect. At least, that's what everyone thinks.
Everything changed the day, Clementine O'Hara told me she was moving away. She’s my best friend. She was my first kiss in grade school. We share everything with each other. She's the only girl I haven't tried anything with because she's off-limits to me and my friends. Only, suddenly I'm seeing her in a different light.
I’m Rhett and I don’t let anything get me down. Then one night changed everything and everything I thought I knew was called into question. All of a sudden, being Rhett didn’t mean so much anymore. All of a sudden my friendship with Clementine was in jeopardy and I wasn't sure what I was going to do.
Excerpt . . .
“Trying to sleep.” She text me back immediately.
“I tried to call you.”
“I’m in bed.”
“So you can’t talk?”
“What do you want, Rhett?”
“:(“
“Not going to work.”
“:( with tears.”
“That’s pitiful. Haha.”
“Are you laughing at the fact that I’m crying.”
“Rhett Madison, you’re not crying. Smh.”
“Call me.”
“Tomorrow! :)”
“Want to go to breakfast?”
“No.”
“What do you mean no?” I frowned at the phone. Clementine never said no to breakfast.
“I’m on a diet. :)”
“What? Why?”
“I have a date next week.”
I dropped the phone on my bed in shock. Clemmie had a date? I frowned. Was she joking? Who could she have a date with? She hadn’t had a date in months. The beep of the phone distracted me from my thoughts. I grabbed it hoping to see the words, joke or psych. Instead I saw. “Did I shock you?”
“Who’s the date with? Do I know him?” I waited for what seemed like forever for her to respond.
“You don’t know him.” She finally responded.
“How did you meet him?” My fingers tapped against the phone as I waited for her to answer. “Damn it, Clemmie.” I muttered under my breath and called her again. “Pick up the damn phone.” I growled as the phone continued ringing.
“Why are you calling me again?” She answered the phone sleepily and I exhaled.
“Why didn’t you pick up the phone?” I lay back in my bed, finally relaxed.
“Because I’m about to go to sleep. I need eight hours a night, you know.”
“You never needed eight hours before.”
“It’s part of my new beauty regime.”
“You don’t need a regime,” I sighed, starting to feel agitated again. “Who is this idiot you’re going on a date with anyway?”
She sighed and I waited impatiently for her to answer me.
“Clemmie?”
“It’s a guy I met online,”
“Online where?” I frowned.
“On a dating site.” She whispered.
“A dating site?” I exclaimed shocked. “Why are you on a dating site?”
“To meet a guy, duh.” I smiled at her tone. I knew she was making a face into the phone.
“Why are you trying to meet a guy online?”
“Because I don’t meet any winners in real life.”
“True, I’m the only winner you know.”
“Real modest, Rhett.”
“What?” I laughed. “It’s true.”
“Anyways, I need to go to sleep now, so I can look fresh for my date tomorrow.”
“Is your date in the morning?” I didn’t want to hang up, not now that I had finally gotten her on the phone.
“No.”
“So, uh, what does it matter what time you go to bed?”
“Because I have a lot to do.” She sounded annoyed as I rolled over on my side.
“Like what?”
“Like I need to get a new outfit and I need a new haircut.”
“Haircut?” I frowned as I pictured her long chestnut brown locks. “You can’t cut your hair.”
“Actually, I think I can.”
“Let me come with you tomorrow. I’ll help you choose an outfit and I want to see your haircut.”
“You help shopping.”
“I want to come help my best friend. Can’t I do that?”
“You just want to be an ass.” She groaned.
“No I don’t. Let me come.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“That’s the great thing about being one of those bosses, I can take off when there’s an emergency.”
“There is no emergency.”
“I’m coming, clementine.”
“Oh thank you, Mr. Madison.” She exclaimed in a sing song voice. “I’m so thankful for your help.”
“As you should be.” I laughed. “And who knows maybe I’ll take you to dinner tomorrow night.”
“I told you, I have a date.”
“Well maybe you’ll come to your senses.”
“I’m allowed to date Rhett.”
“I know that, but a loser you met online?” I made a face. “Does Nanna know?”
“Of course not,” she sighed. “No one in my family knows.”
“Okay.” I said simply. Nanna was Clementines grandma, but we both called her Nanna. She felt like my real grandma and had always treated me as her grandson since I had met her as a little kid.
“By the way Nanna asked me if you can come to the family BBQ next month.”
“Well duh,” I laughed.
“She also said to tell you you can bring your girlfriend.”
“What girlfriend?” I groaned. “Clemmie, you know that I don’t do girlfriends. I don’t want a relationship.”
“Don’t you ever want to get married or have kids?”
“Kids, ugh. And marriage? Why?”
“For true love? For companionship?”
“I don’t believe in true love and I have you for companionship.”
“But what about the other stuff?” Her voice sounded embarrassed.
“You mean sex?” I laughed and adjusted myself. “Are we going to talk about sex now?”
“Whatever, Rhett.” She sighed. “Have sex with nameless women and just continue being a player.”
“Thank you, I will.”
“Why did you call me Rhett?” She sounded annoyed.
“I wanted to talk or is that a no no now you’re dating online.”
“It’s midnight.”
“Would you rather I say this is a booty call?”
“Rhett!”
“What?” I laughed.
“I’m going to bed now.”
“No phone sex?”
“You’re gross.”
“I’m touching myself now.”
“Rhett!” She gasped. “I’m warning you.”
“I’m joking,” I laughed. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”