• Troublesome • Rhett x Reader •

• Chapter Fifteen •

My car screeches to a stop outside of the house. I slam the door and jog up the driveway. The lack of my father's car must mean he's out again. Good. Entering the house, I swing the front door shut and head straight for the bathroom. The harsh light only emphasizes the most unflattering things about my face, so I close my eyes until I'm done wiping the dried tears from my cheeks and rinsing with cool water. It helps me calm down a little before spending the rest of my day face-down in bed.

I crack my eyes open, checking the time by habit. 10:00 pm. With a grunt, I roll over and cling the blanket close to my chest. I see that my phone's screen is lit up on my table, illuminating the surroundings with a pale white. I prop myself on one arm and look at it.

3 missed calls from dad, and one missed call from an unknown number. I scoot to the edge of my bed and unplug my phone before heading to check his bedroom. Not there. I pick up the pace as I head down the stairs, nearly tripping, but recovering quickly. I pull the door of his office wide open and flick on the lights. Not here either. Running across the living room and peering out the window, his car still isn't here. Really, why today of all days? Can't I have a break?

I slide his number on my phone and call him back. It rings a couple of times before going to voice mail. Biting my fingernails, I call again. And again. Then, I stare intently at the unrecognized number, trying to remember if I've ever seen it before. Same area code as me, but nothing else rings a bell. My fingertip looms over the call button, but I withdraw it to copy the number and paste it into the search bar.

The first thing that pops up makes my throat catch and my face go numb. The police station. I call them without hesitation.

"Burbank Police Department."

"Is Thomas (L/N) being held there or something? I had a call from this number and-"

"Yes, we have a Mr. (L/N) here. He was arrested at approximately 7:00 pm for an altercation that lead to attack. Do you need our address?"

"No." I hang up and stare blankly, trying to comprehend what the hell happened. I hectically thow my coat on and slide my bare feet into the closest pair of sneakers. My neighbors must already think I'm some druggy from how many times I've had to run out looking like this.

Ploping into the driver seat, my shaky hands manage to fumble the key into the ignition and twist them with tbe intention to spark my car to life.

To... Spark my car to life....

The only sound that I hear is a click. It doesn't even attempt to turn over. Nothing. I must've left my lights on.

I reflexively punch the steering wheel.

"Shit..."

I absentmindedly pull up Nicole's number on my phone but stop myself before I can press call. What the hell am I supposed to do? Walk? Dropping my head back down to stare at my phone, Rhett's phone number looms front and center. Maybe having him send me some files through text a few days ago wasn't a bad idea after all....

... No, I'm walking.

I pocket my keys and get on my way, checking my phone for directions after they first five blocks. But not long into my hike it starts sinking in. 40 minutes to walk there. It's dark. In the city. Of course, being somehow notorious for both underthinking AND overthinking things, I start dosing my pace and clutch my cellphone tightly.

"Hello?" His sleepy voice answers on the other end of the line.

"Hey, it's (y/n). Can you do me a solid? I need a ride. I can give you gas money."

"What? Uh," I can hear him rolling over in bed, the sliding of blankets. Probably checking the time.

"I know it's really late, but it's an emergency."

"Alright. Text me your address."

"Thank you." I quickly press end and switch over to send him my location. Sent.

I stand on the sidewalk of a street I'm not all familiar with. Sitting on the curb, chin resting on my hand, I let out a deep sigh and press my eyes closed. The tension in my chest won't let up until I see my dad, but I can't help but feel relieved that I had someone I could rely on. I don't know what I'd do if I ended up having to call Nicole. Surly she would help, but not without picking up where she left off earlier today. I certainly do not need that at the moment.

At least there are some things going my way.

In less than a few minutes a dark SUV pulls up. I start standing up, but not before he swings the door open and rushes up to me. He's obviously just climbed out of bed, and this is the first time I've seen him without his hair product in, but my frazzled eyes move on to his concerned face.

"Are you okay? What happened? What's the emergency?"

"My dad's been arrested. I need a ride to the station." I look down the road. "I'm hoping I can bail him out. I might have enough if it's just another minor charge."

"Yeah." He exhales, relief visible in his posture. "Yeah, let's go." He pats my back as we head to either side of his car. After we both buckle I open the directions onto my phone, but he insists he knows the way.

He knows de wae
...
Sorry

"Sorry I made you get out of bed..." I stare blankly out of the window.

"Oh, no, don't apologize. I'm glad to help." He dismisses my apology with a wave of his hand.

"I hope the ringing didn't disturb your wife. I'd feel awful if I woke her too." I scratch the back of my neck awkwardly. A silence falls over us. I almost open my mouth to say something else, but he clears his throat and speaks up once again.

"Yeah, um, we're going through a divorce. She's fine."

An immediate wave of regret washes over me. I wonder if I'd sustain many injuries if I just jumped out of the moving car right now. But, instead, I clear my throat and change the subject like a stable human being.

"Sorry-" I fish around in my pocket and pull out my wallet. "Is $20 okay?"

He looks blankly at me for a second before shaking his head.

"Don't worry about it, alright? Let's just focus on your dad."

I raise my brows and watch him carefully, then lean my head back against the rest.

"Yeah.." My voice is breathless and brittle at the thought of what waits ahead.