• Troublesome • Rhett x Reader •

• Chapter Twenty One•

Finally the car slows to a stop and I unbuckle myself, swinging the door open. I stop for a moment when I notice Rhett and Link both doing the same.

"Uh, are... You two coming in?"

Please no please no please no....

"You wanna be alone while you're sick?" Link raises an eyebrow. Rhett walks around the car to our side.

"Yeah, no." He says. "Either you have company or you're going to the hospital."

I roll my eyes and run my hand over my face, using the other hand to steady myself against the car door.

"Ugh. Why do you sound like parents?"

"Because... We are parents..." Rhett says, settling yet another dispute that I had no chance of winning.

Well, maybe I could bolt around Link, make it inside, and lock the door....

Ughhhh. No. They're my bosses.

I wear a grimace as they help me all the way into the house, where I stand with my arms crossed like a spoiled toddler trying not to look like I'm still dizzy as all hell.

I also try to hide the embarrassment of the junk food wrappers cluttered on and around the sofa from my recent midnight shenanigans. So why not crack a joke and lighten the mood a little?

"So... Wanna know what my favorite wrapper is?" I mosey on over to the couch and pick up a cluster of empty wrappers, fumbling for the wrapper im looking for. "Well... Shoot. I was gonna say m&m."

They just stare blankly at each other.

"But... I'll just have to settle... For... Some Ice-T...?"

Nailed it.

"So anyway," Link says, looking between Rhett and I. "Could I use your  bathroom?"

"Sure." Hopefully he doesn't see the chocolate smear in the tub. That'd be a gross misunderstanding.

"Where is it?"

"Straight down the hall, in the first room to the left." I point.

He disappears into the hallway and after a moment I awkwardly avoid eye contact with Rhett. I just want to lay down in my bed, but no way in hell am i leaving them in my house unattended. But, BOY, am I absolutely exhausted.

Then, to my shame, he starts tidying up the couch cushions.

"No, no, no, let me... I can-" I stand, wobbling a little at my ankles, and try to reach for the trash in his hands, but he effortlessly holds it out of my reach.

"You need to rest until this junk gets out of your system." He stresses.

"I will, okay? Just please don't start cleaning the first time you're at my house." I chew on my bottom lip in discomfort. He's quiet, only for a few seconds. But it feels different than before.

"This isn't the first time I've been here." He reminds me of that night he kissed me and then drove off, only to never talk to me again. Well, until today. The fresh hurt starts pumping it's way into my blood again, the same hot betrayal I felt when I thought I saw him in the gas station.  I frown and press my eyes shut, forcing back the tears.

Man, since when did I get so sensitive? The old me, the one back in my old town... She'd never let some guy make her wonder what's wrong with herself. I bury my face in my shaky hands.

"Hey, hey, you okay?" He rubs my back.

"Yeah," I take in a deep breath. "Just another bout of nausea... "