Southern Sinner (North Carolina Highlands 3)

“Because I care about my brother, and I want to make sure he’s not being taken advantage of. He hasn’t exactly been in a great headspace over the past year. He’s all mixed up, and that makes him an easy target.”

My panic burns to anger. “But he’s not mixed up.”

“You just said he doesn’t have anything to do with your scam.”

I want to say there is no scam. I want to say it forcefully, with the weight of truth behind it. Because even though we did lie, the weight of truth is there. The connection we have has always been real. The future we’re trying to build is real.

The story we told everyone, though? That isn’t.

“Have you talked to Hank?” My heart feels like it’s going to beat right out of my chest.

“He knows what he wants, Milly,” Rhett says.

She looks at him. “You believe that?”

He runs a hand over his mouth again, and I realize how worn out he looks. Bags under his eyes, skin puffy and red.

He is not the steady, capable ally Hank and I need right now.

Oh shit is right.

“I think we all need to sit down and talk before someone says something they’ll regret,” Rhett replies, casting a meaningful glance at Milly. “I’m talking about you. You’re going to say something you’ll regret because you’re hard-headed, and you have no idea what’s going on.”

“Fine. We can talk.” Milly checks her watch. “I have an insane day. My house, eight o’clock tonight?”

My gut clenches. So much for the cozy evening in Hank and I planned.

Whatever. Cat’s out of the bag. Time to face the music. Rip off the Band-Aid.

Using cheesy colloquialisms to explain our predicament makes the whole thing feel slightly less terrifying.

“Works for us,” I say. Despite the clusterfuck I’m currently in, I still feel a small fissure of joy at being part of an us with Hank. Whatever happens, we have each other.

Another thing I’d forgotten: the comfort that comes with being with someone. The support. For so long, I thought only about the work that came with being part of a pair. Picking up after a partner. Cooking for them. Making space for them.

“I’ve got, uh, a thing—”

“No, you don’t.” Milly crisply cuts off her brother. “Be there, or I’ll come find you, you hear? The same goes for you.” She looks at me.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Milly keeps looking at me, tilting up her chin. “We’ll see. Eight o’clock.”

She disappears, leaving a cloud of perfume and unease in her wake.

“I’m really sorry,” Rhett says. “I don’t know whose fault that was, but I’m willing to take the blame. I’m a big fucking idiot, aren’t I?”

I put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m the idiot. I shouldn’t have brought up what I did three seconds into our conversation. I’m sorry too.”

“What can I do to make this right?”

“Honestly?” I shake my head. “I don’t know. Hank wanted to have a plan before we told y’all—because we really were planning on telling you guys the truth about what went down—so he’s not going to be happy. I guess we’ll just have to see how it goes.”

He nods, looking distraught. “Okay. Yeah. So you’re actually here to see him, right? As his real girlfriend?”

I manage a tight smile. “I am. I missed him so damn much I couldn’t stay away. We really are trying to make a relationship work—I’m not lying about that. We spent the whole morning reworking our calendars for the next few months so we can see each other.” I swallow. “I love your brother. So much.”

“I hope you do.”

My heart falls. Rhett wants to trust me. But he doesn’t. Not yet.

Doesn’t bode well for what’s going to go down tonight.

“I should get going,” Rhett says, shoving his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “See you tonight, I guess?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I’ll see you in a bit. Thanks for defending me.”

“Course. My sister means well. Once she’s on your side, she’ll go to war for you. She’s just stubborn as hell. It wasn’t easy for her, being the only girl in a family of boys. I hate to say it, but her weariness around strangers—I think that kinda comes from us.”

I nod, a lump forming in my throat.

“Just promise me one thing?” Rhett asks.

“I’ll try.”

“Don’t hurt Hank. He’s been through hell and back. He’s done some dumb shit, but he’s a good man. I was with him for a good chunk of the past year, and yeah, he was lost for a while there. But I don’t think he is anymore.”

“Thanks for saying that. I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

He holds up his hands and smiles. He’s got the same dimple Hank does. “Don’t get too excited—I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed. But hell, even I can see that has a lot to do with meeting you. You’re the real deal, Stevie, and I think in many ways that’s what he’s always been searching for.”