The Quite Ridge

Chapter 17- Rhett

It wasn’t planned. That’s what I told myself. Just made sense. New girl in the office. If something came up, she’d need a number that actually got answered. That was it. Nothing else.

Still, I didn’t do that for everyone. Most people went through Maddie. Through the office. Through whatever system was already in place. It worked. Didn’t need to change. So I didn’t. Until now.

When I saw her step outside, I already knew I was going to do it. Didn’t think it through. Didn’t need to. Just called her name. Kept it simple.

“For work.”

That part mattered. Needed to.

The second part—

I didn’t plan that.

“Or if you just need someone.”

That wasn’t something I usually said. To anyone.

She hesitated. Just for a second. Then handed me her phone. Didn’t question it. Didn’t make it awkward. That matched everything else about her. Controlled. Careful.

The way her fingers brushed mine when I handed it back— that stuck longer than it should have. Not enough to matter. Just enough to notice.

I told her to save it, stepped back, let it end where it should have. Same as always.

Then my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, already knowing who it was before I looked.

This is Sadie.

Short. Simple. Like everything else about her.

I saved the number without thinking about it, sliding my phone back into my pocket. That should’ve been it. Nothing more.

Still—

it didn’t feel like nothing.