• Troublesome • Rhett x Reader •

• Chapter Twenty Eight •

Hey all, sorry for the long wait. I originally planned on finishing the story before releasing a new chapter, but after I started I got Covid - and have had a not great time since. New health issue after new health issue. Anyway here is a long awaited update!

After what feels like an hour, he parts from me, and I stare up at him. My tears had stopped and left sticky, salty trails down my face.

"Let's get you out of this robe." He soothes me, helping me to my feet.

He leads me to the bathroom, where he reaches into the water and pulls the plug out of the drain, allowing a small whirlpool to begin draining the tub.

After shaking his hand to fling stray droplets of bath water from his skin, he leads me up the stairs and into my room.

"Do you have any pajamas?" He asks.

"I just wear whatever."

With that, he turns away from me and opens my dresser drawer, skimming past my underwear without even the smallest glance in their direction. He doesn't seem to find whatever he's looking for, and opens the drawer beneath that last.

"Ah. Here we go." He grabs a hold of a large shirt of mine, tossing in my direction. I hardly catch it. And he goes right back into the drawer and withdraws some navy blue sweatpants.

He, this time, plucks the shirt from my arms and lays both of them out on my bed.

"I'll go downstairs." His smile is brief, but fades soon after. He disappears out the door.

After changing, I stare in the smudged mirror on my wall. Old stickers clutter the left and right sides of it. Faded smiles of old 2000s pop stars, various holographic fruit, and multiple "Zumiez" stickers cling desperately to the glass.

My mind is too tired to complain about my appearance, so the only thing it can muster up is emptiness. It's a nice change of pace.

Upon returning downstairs, I discover Rhett rummaging through a closet.

"Do you have a mop anywhere?"

"We should somewhere... but don't worry about cleaning up the mess. I'll do it."

"No, you'll be busy."

"Busy doing what?" I fight the smile tugging at my mouth.

"Busy watching a movie of your choice and eating the food I just ordered." He concludes.

This is conflicting. His demeanor is so caring and easygoing, almost silly, but his tone is so serious. It vaguely reminds me of how my parents would sound when I'd get in trouble as a child. My mother's desire to be stern, but unable to conceal her empathy for the fear she knew I'd be feeling.

I walk over to the couch and sit. I know I need a distraction, but I just can't seem to get out of this disassociation.

My life is a simmering pot of emotions that had finally boiled over and made a big mess.

Rhett cleans just outside of my peripheral vision as my eyes focus on the television that is too quiet to hear. A rerun of an old 80's television series plays. I can only imagine what the actors are saying.

We silently watch TV, sitting adjacent to one another. Well, silent for the most part. My focus is broken by the sound of Rhett's vibrating phone. My head instinctively turns towards the noise only for my gaze to meet his, wearing the same 'are you going to answer that?' expression. That's when I notice it's not his phone doing the vibrating.

On the other side of the room my phone rests on the table. As I go to stand up, he is already crossing the creaky wooden floor and scooping my phone into his hand. He stops in front of me, towering over me as usual, holding my phone down to me. I warily grab it, examining the screen as another vibration rattles the flesh of my hand.

I focus on the most recent of the missed calls and messages. It's Link. My face drops. Rhett goes to say something, but before he can another call from Link lights up my phone screen. Within a millisecond I answer the call and press the phone to my ear.

"Link." I speak quietly, similar to a child being punished.

"It's been great having you on the team, (Y/N), but we're going to be letting you go." My eyes widen. I knew this was a very real possibility, but for some reason it still feels like a blow to the chest. I shift my shocked expression to Rhett, who mirrors a similar expression back at me. He raises an eyebrow and gestures that I tell him what's going on, but I'm not sure how letting Link know that Rhett is currently in my home would go over. What's certain is that it would not make me look innocent.

I take another brief moment before replying, swallowing my initial panic.

"I understand. I'm sorry." For a minute I intended to add Can we talk about this more tomorrow? but... In all honesty, I don't know how I'm ever going to go back to that office and face everyone again after this. Maybe it's better this way.

"Good." Is all I hear from the other end of the line followed by the call abruptly ending. My hand lingers there, phone still in my grip. Browsing through Job sites wasn't how I planned on spending the rest of my week, but beggars can't be choosers.

"What was that?" Rhett asks me and intently awaits an explanation as I finally allow my hand to return to my lap. "Was that Link I heard?"

"Yeah."

"What did he-" His phone started ringing loudly, causing both of us to jump in our spots. He swiftly removes his phone from his pocket, takes one look at it, and then holds up a one minute finger. Leaving me in the dark room, he shows himself outside, where I hear his muffled voice answer the phone. That has to be Link again.

He's cheating on Jessie with THAT?!

The fans' tweets about me trickle back into my mind.

I found her Facebook, why do homewreckers always look like... 🤮

It only makes sense that Link would feel the same way. I wonder if he really knows about Rhett and Jessie's separation?

The idea that Rhett could be lying about their separation snakes its way around my neck and I struggle to breathe.

My descent into madness is cut off by the muffled sounds of Rhett raising his voice from outside. As much as I want to showcase my good morals.................... I'm not above eavesdropping when the subject very well may be myself.

Only inches away from the front door now, the words have become more coherent. 

"I told you, Link. I told you about everything that was going on with Jessie when it happened three years ago." He says firmly. There's a pause where I assume Link is giving his half of the argument. Then Rhett raises his voice. "You can't fire her over a misunderstanding. Fuck what anyone else thinks. She has rights."

My heart flutters, and I gently hold my hand against my chest to soothe it as I continue to listen.

"Yeah, yeah, you better do that." Rhett ends the call and returns.

"You're working from home for now. Until we get this cleared up." He says flatly. I want to speak, but he opens his mouth once again. "I have to go talk with Jess."

I close my mouth, looking him in his blue eyes, noticing loose  hairs settle comfortably on his forehead. I offer him a subdued nod. Places his large hands softly on my shoulders and nods back at me, a silent promise.

He places a kiss on my lips and is on his way within what feels like a matter of only seconds.

Goodnight to me, then...