One More Time

Finally, I had a way to contact Rhett and talk to him.

“Chanel?” Ana asked. “You there?”

“Are you seeing Tommy again anytime soon?” I asked.

“Why do you ask?”

“Just answer the question. Are you?”

“I am. We’re going out again tonight. Why?” she asked.

“I know Rhett’s still in the area. His contact information from the RSVP list stated he was still in Miami.”

“Oh, shit. You turned on that stalker mode, girl.”

“Do you think you could ask Tommy where he works or lives? I really need to talk to him.”

“I’ll do you one better. I’ll ask Tommy for his phone number. I’ll tell him you know the truth, and you really need to get in contact with Rhett,” she said.

“Say whatever the hell you have to to get that number.”

“Oh, girl, this’ll be easy then.”

“Ana, thank you so much. I’m serious.”

“The moment I have the number, I’ll text it to you,” she said.

“I’ll be waiting. Trust and believe. And good luck on your date tonight. I really hope you enjoy yourself again.”

“Me too. I’m really excited about it. I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow. And as soon as Tommy gives me Rhett’s number, I’ll send it over.”

“Thank you again. I’m serious. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Later, beautiful.”

Hanging up the phone, a smile crossed my face. This was it. I was hours away from talking to Rhett. The moment I had his number, I was going to call, no matter what time it was. Even if I had to rattle off everything I knew to his voice mailbox, I needed him to know that I knew everything. I knew the truth. I knew that Luke had set everything up on prom night and that Evelyn was a paid pawn in his scheme to get me alone. I smiled as I pushed away from the bed, my chair rolling me back to my laptop. My mind was clearer than it had ever been knowing I was going to be talking to Rhett soon, and my fingers began to fly across the keyboard.

I pulled up tabs in my internet browser and opened eBooks. I looked up scientific studies and found scholarly resources all backing up the substance of the article I was going to be writing. I knew how I was going to outline it. I knew the perspective I was going to take. I knew the message I wanted to deliver, and I could see the entire thing coming to life in my mind’s eye. I jotted everything down into a document that was routinely being saved on my computer and I smiled at the thought of it all.

My inspiration was back. My desire to work and my need to write was back. My thirst for knowledge was greater than it had ever been, and my mind was finally clear for the first time in days … and it was all because of Rhett.

It was the prospect of talking to him that helped put my head back in the game.

That was all the confirmation I needed. I would never be my best self unless Rhett was in my life. I would never reach my fullest potential or become the best possible version of myself without that man at my side. I couldn't live without him, not a second longer. Even if we were only friends and nothing else ever came of our relationship romantically, I needed a part of him. I needed a part of him in my life to fuel the place he now occupied.

Rhett was my muse, and I couldn't let that go.

Not if I wanted to be successful, and not if I wanted to be happy.

But then, my phone rang again. It halted my work in its tracks as I rolled back over to my phone. I didn’t recognize the number calling, but the number was local. I furrowed my brow as I picked up the phone, curious as to who was calling me.

“This is Chanel Mathews, how may I help you?”

“Miss Mathews? T

his is Officer Childs from Miami P.D.”

I felt my blood run cold as my hands began to tremble.