The Quite Ridge

Chapter 35-Rhett

I wasn’t supposed to be thinking about her this much.

That was the first thing I noticed.

The second was that I didn’t seem to be doing anything about it.

I tried to stay busy. There was always something to fix, something to clean up, something that should have been enough to keep my head where it needed to be. The place wasn’t that big, but it didn’t take much to find something that needed attention if I was looking for it.

I was.

It didn’t help.

She kept slipping in anyway.

At first it was small. A thought that didn’t belong. A moment where I caught myself standing still longer than I meant to, replaying something she said, the way she looked at me, the way she didn’t look at me.

Then it wasn’t small anymore.

By mid-morning, I had already picked my phone up twice without realizing why. I’d unlock it, stare at the screen, then put it back down like I hadn’t just done that for a reason.

The third time, I knew exactly what I was doing.

I sat down on the edge of the couch, elbows on my knees, staring at her name longer than I should have. My thumb hovered over the screen for a second, like I was deciding something that didn’t actually need deciding.

Then I typed anyway.

You make it out alive this morning?

I leaned back slightly, resting my head against the couch, watching the screen like I didn’t already know she’d answer.

She did.

Barely.

A small smirk pulled at the corner of my mouth without me meaning it to.

Dramatic.

The reply came quick.

You started it.

That was all it took.

The rest came easy.

Too easy.

The conversation moved without effort, one message turning into another without either of us really trying to end it. I could picture her reading them, picture the way her expression would shift, the way she’d try not to react and fail just enough to give herself away.

I ran a hand over the back of my neck, shaking my head slightly as I typed again.

You look like that all the time or just when I’m around?

I waited.

Not long.

Look like what?

There it was.

I didn’t hesitate this time.

Like you’re thinking about something you shouldn’t be.

That one landed.

I knew it would.

There was a pause.

Long enough to notice.

Long enough to make me wonder what she was doing on the other end of it.

Then—

Maybe I am.

Something in my chest shifted at that.

Not big.

Not obvious.

But enough.

I stared at the screen for a second longer before typing again.

Careful.

The response came quick.

Why?

I exhaled slowly, leaning back into the couch, one arm dropping across my stomach.

Because I might ask you what it is.

I didn’t send it right away.

Let it sit there.

Then hit send anyway.

The conversation didn’t slow after that.

If anything, it got easier.

Looser.

Like we’d both stepped into something without saying it out loud.

By the time it faded out, I was already thinking about the next time I’d see her.

Monday.

That felt too far.

Too long.

⸻

The rest of the day dragged.

Not slow in the way time usually does.

Slow in the way it does when you’re waiting for something you don’t want to admit you’re waiting for.

I moved around the house without much purpose, starting one thing and not finishing it, picking something else up just to set it back down again. I opened the fridge twice without grabbing anything. Turned the TV on, muted it, then left it running like the noise might help.

It didn’t.

Nothing really did.

I ended up back on the couch more than once, leaning forward, elbows on my knees again, staring at my phone like it might do something if I looked at it long enough.

It didn’t.

Still—

I kept checking.

Every few minutes.

Like something might change.

Like she might say something.

Like I needed a reason to pick it up again.

It was stupid.

I knew it was.

Didn’t stop me.

⸻

It was later that night when I finally texted her again.

The house had quieted down, the kind of quiet that made everything feel louder than it should. Every small movement. Every shift. Every thought that didn’t have anything to distract it.

I stared at the screen for a second longer this time.

Then typed.

You survive the rest of the day?

The message sent.

I watched it.

Waited.

The reply didn’t come as fast this time.

That was the first thing I noticed.

When it did, it was shorter.

Yeah.

I sat there for a second, my thumb hovering over the screen again.

Something felt off.

Not enough to call it out.

But enough to notice.

Enough to make me sit up a little straighter without meaning to.

You still in town? I typed.

There was a longer pause this time.

Long enough to feel it.

Then—

No. I’m at Maddie’s.

I frowned slightly, leaning back into the couch, my eyes narrowing just a little.

Everything good?

Another pause.

Then—

Yeah. Something’s off with the cabin so I’m just gonna stay here for a bit.

I read that twice.

Something’s off.

My jaw tightened slightly without me meaning it to.

I leaned forward again, forearms resting on my knees, my grip tightening around my phone.

What kind of off?

The reply came quicker this time.

Nothing major. Just don’t feel like dealing with it tonight.

I didn’t like that answer.

Didn’t push right away either.

Didn’t want to push her into shutting down.

You want me to come take a look?

It came out before I thought about it.

Before I could stop it.

There was a pause.

Then—

No. The landlord’s gonna handle it.

I leaned back again, my fingers tapping lightly against the side of my phone, my foot shifting against the floor without me realizing it.

Didn’t love that either.

You sure?

Yeah. I’m good. Just gonna stay here with Maddie for a few days.

A few days.

That stuck.

Sat heavier than it should have.

I leaned my head back, staring at the ceiling for a second.

Then—

Honestly, I don’t mind it. It’s kinda nice not being alone.

That eased it.

A little.

Not completely.

But enough.

Enough to make me stop pushing.

Enough to let it sit.

I exhaled slowly, my shoulders dropping just slightly.

Alright. Just let me know if you need anything.

The reply came quick.

I will.

I stared at the screen a second longer than I should have.

Something still didn’t sit right.

Something about the pauses.

The short answers.

The way it felt like she was there but not really there.

But she wasn’t asking for help.

Wasn’t pulling away either.

So I let it go.

For now.

Even though something in the back of my mind told me I probably shouldn’t have.