Never Yours Again novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: Anytime

Rhett turned up on Friday at noon, tanned and rested.

He said he had spent two days at the lake house clearing his head.

Nobody mentioned the ring.

On Saturday night I stood in the wings of the Lakeshore Hall with a headset on and four hundred people in their seats.

The show ran like a watch.

Shawna sat at the sound desk with her gum and her good scissors, and she gave me a thumbs up every time a cue landed.

Ellis sat in the last row, on the aisle, in a plain dark suit.

I had asked him to be there.

On Thursday I had asked him for something else.

Ellis was still in Rhett's club chat, because nobody had thought to remove him.

He had given me the whole thread, and a voice note Rhett posted there on Tuesday, without asking why.

Both sat on a drive in Shawna's pocket.

At eight-ten the finale began.

Camille opened it, in the long ivory Palgrave coat, and the room breathed in.

She walked to the end of the runway, turned in a slow circle, and walked back without a flicker.

Then the models filled the runway in a long white line, and the house lights came up.

Rhett walked out from the opposite wing with a microphone.

He wore a black tux and a smile I'd have fallen for at twenty-two.

"Good evening," he said. "I'll be brief."

The room laughed warmly.

"Five years ago I was at this hall for a gala," said Rhett. "A girl ran out onto a balcony with wine down her sleeve."

My hand went to my headset.

"I found her crying in the dark. I took off my jacket and put it around her shoulders. She said thank you, and I've never forgotten her face."

The room made a soft, pleased sound.

It was my story.

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