“Don’t you ever get worried though?”

“Never.” His blue eyes became serious. “There is no doubt in my mind that you’re the girl for me.”

“But you never wanted to fall in love or have a girlfriend or...” I stopped myself from saying get married. I knew that he didn’t want to hear the words married or baby right now. I tried to stop myself from giggling at the picture his face would make if I said the words marriage. Not that I didn’t want to marry him. Of course I did. However, I knew it was important to take baby steps with Rhett. It had taken him long enough to figure out he had feelings for me, I didn’t want to cause him to go backwards. Not when I’d been in love with him for so many years.

“Or what?” I could see him thinking as he stared at me. The blue in his eyes changed from a light sky blue to a more serious azure color.

“Nothing.” I said lightly and turned away from him. I could feel my heartbeat skipping, worried that he’d catch on to what I’d been thinking and flip out. I knew Rhett well enough to know that the words wedding and marriage would cause him to have a heart attack, no matter how much he denied it. It would be too much, way too soon.

“Remember when we went to that movie theater and danced and sang that Hansen song?” He grabbed my arm and spun me around.

“How could I forget? The MMMBop song?” I made a face and he laughed.

“Yeah, remember how we were laughing and dancing?” His eyes crinkled as he recalled the spectacle we had made of ourselves.

“Yeah why?”

“We did that because we thought it was fun. We did it because we had no fear of what other people were going to think. We did it because we were together and we just wanted to have a good time.” He squeezed my shoulders. “We were each other’s rocks. We can do anything together Clemmie. I’m not scared about what could happen to us because I know that there’s nothing that could happen that we couldn’t get over. We’re still best friends first.” He grinned. “And that means I can still tease the heck out of you and not worry that you’re going to get all silly and girly on me.”

“Phew.” I laughed. “I thought you wanted to go to Copley Place, that mall downtown, and perform a new dance routine.”

“Hell no.” He laughed. “My dancing days are behind me.”

“We could do some twerking, Nicki Minaj style.” I grinned.

“I think I’ll keep my anaconda in my pants, thank you for very much.” Rhett laughed and winked at me.

“I cannot believe you know the name to her song, or that you even know who she is.” My jaw dropped as I stared at him. I felt warm and secure inside. I loved that Rhett could always push my worries aside so easily.

“I’m dating you. I know all the crappy musicians now.”

“She’s not crappy.” I rolled my eyes. “At least some of her songs aren’t crappy.” I conceded.

“I don’t mind if you want to practice your twerking though.” He pulled me towards him and squeezed my ass. “Preferably on my lap.”

“You’re disgusting Rhett.” I hit him in the arm. “I’m not about to twerk on your lap.”

“You weren’t complaining last night.” He licked his lips and playfully slapped my ass.

“Is everything about sex with you?”

“Is that even a question Clementine O’Hara? We’ve been best friends for years and that was never an issue, do you really think that’s all I want now?”

“I don’t know what to—”

“Seriously Clementine?” He cut me off and stepped back and his lips quivered. “Is that what you think of me?” I saw his eyes widen and he bit his lower lip. “Do you really think I’m capable of being that sort of man?” His eyes looked dolefully into mine and I burst into laughter.

“You’re such a goof.” I shook my head after my laughter subsided. “What am I going to do with you, Rhett Madison?”

“I’m going to plead the fifth as I’m not sure you’ll appreciate my answer.” He grinned and then winked at me again. “However, I can make it easy for you.”

“Make what easy for me?” I frowned as I watched him pulling his shirt off. I stared at his bare chest and tried not to burn my eyes out staring at his abs. I didn’t understand abs. How did they even exist? How did a stomach go from fat to a well-defined and chiseled piece of art? I ran my fingers down his six-pack and licked my lips. “You wish.”

“You do too.”

“Rhett, I already told you, Holden is coming over and we’re going to study.”

“I don’t know Holden and I don’t care about Holden. What sort of name is Holden anyway?”

“Rhett.” I frowned at him and ran to my phone when I heard it beeping. “I think that might be him.”

“He’s here already?”

“Yes.” I read my text messages. “Please be nice.”

“I’m always nice.” He looked at me with a surly expression. “Why wouldn’t I be nice to Holdy?”

“Holden.” I rolled my eyes.

“At least he’s holding and not grabbing.”

“Rhett!”

“I’d have to give him a beat down if he tried to grab you.” He cocked his head. “In fact I’d have to give him a beat down if he tried to hold you as well.”