• Troublesome • Rhett x Reader •

• Chapter Twenty Five •

"I'm probably gonna order a waffle."

"(Y/n), this is an Applebee's, not a Waffle House. Not an ihop. Not a Denny's."

"Yeah, but I'm craving something sweet and sticky." I point at the faded photo of a stack of waffles topped with whipped cream and syrup on the menu. "And that is both sticky AND sweet."

"Why are there waffles on the dinner menu?" He flips his menu to the page I'm looking at and squints at the breakfast foods that are - in fact - on the dinner menu.

"Because it's 2020 and nothing makes sense anymore."

Heels click clack their way closer to us and we look up to see the waitress approaching with her brown eyes squinted in a smile.

"We have a table ready." She straightens her apron. "Right this way."

Walking through the restaurant was a little easier than I expected it to be. Several people eyed Rhett, but nobody seemed to recognize him, so it must've been due to his height. Careful, I wanted to say, you'll hit your head on the light fixtures.

Our table is one in a cluster of round tall tables with cushioned stools on either end. We take our seats and hand the menus back over to the waitress.

"I'm Maria and I'll be your server today, we apologize for the wait -are you ready to order?" She greets once more.

"Yes. I'd like the waffles and a glass of water."

"Waffles? Can't go wrong with those." She chuckles, writing on her notepad. "And for you?"

"I'll have the chicken parm, with a glass water." Rhett orders, casually taking my hand into his. I face away from the waitress so that she can't see me blush.

As the waitress walks away to start our orders, i shift my stare back to Rhett.

I can't help but think about Nicole and her accusations. Seeing Rhett's hand cradling mine, I start feeling my chest tighten. Are we serious? Where is this relationship heading?

Either we will get more and more serious until we inevitably have to let (at the very least) our friends and family know about us....

or we'll remain hidden until we eventually just stop talking altogether.

Possibility one would result in me having to tell Nicole and face the music of my series of lies. The idea by itself is enough to nauseate me.

Possibility two would hurt me as well. But would it hurt me more than Nicole would?

"So how're things going with Link?" I speak up to snap myself out of it.

"He's alright. Same old, same old." He reaches out and pokes the tip of my nose. "But I want to talk about you."

"Me? Boring."

"I'm thinking about making you more than a writer."

"More than a writer?" I ask.

"Well, you'd mostly just be writing skits and brainstorming. Things you're already doing."

The waitress appears beside our table and places our drinks down with two clinks before disappearing into the back of the restaurant once again. I slide my cup in front of me and take a sip.

"I want to make you a bit of a director as well." He finishes. "It'll mostly be the title, but it'll require you to do a little more on the occasions we make skits - which you know isn't too often."

"Isn't that you and Link's thing? You two made this entire show anyway."

"Well, yes, but it'll pay you more. And I want you and your father to be more comfortable, and-"

"Wait, that's why? Because of my financial distraction? Rhett, that's..." I push my water away and lean my forehead into my hands.

"I know you can do it, though. It's not very difficult, and I'll help you every step of the way. You know that."

"Rhett. I want you to give me this position because I'm qualified, not because of my lack of money. You know how upsetting that is."

"You're right, I'm sorry, (y/n), I just hate to think how alone you were in that house without your dad there with you. And knowing I could've done something to help sooner.... crap. I hate it." He sighs in frustration.

"You know I'm not going to accept whatever promotion you offer me unless I know I'm receiving it because I've actually done something to earn it." I finalize. "What would the crew think if they heard about you promoting the inexperienced new girl who's good for nothing but Harry Potter fan fiction and providing stale doughnuts?"

He pinches the bridge of his nose before shifting his head between his arms to run his hands through his hair.

"What? Okay, okay, one.... please don't sum yourself up as a glorified 'fetch' girl. And two, you're worried about the crew getting the wrong idea?" He asks.

"Yes." I confirm, cold and direct. "Terrified of it, actually."

His arms lower onto the table and a part of me expects to feel his hand reach out to mine once again, but  he doesn't make any farther movements. He stays like that for a while, visibly thinking.

The waitress exits the kitchen, approaching us with two plates in hand.

"I'm sorry." Rhett's voice is low, he speaks behind his folded hands. "I'm sorry I can't give you what you want."

"What? Rhett..." I try to further the conversation, but shut myself up as the waitress arrives.

Now isn't the time for this.

"Thank you." I say to the waitress.

"No problem. Flag me down if you need anything else." She smiles and turns.

"So..." I sigh. "Any movies coming out that you plan on seeing?"

He lifts his head, and for the first time I notice how tired he looks.

"There are a couple that looked good, but most of the movies coming out recently have been remakes and sequels." He smiles.

"True." I force a smile. Hopefully it passes as genuine. "Let's see a movie after this."