Prologue
It all started with a note and a piece of candy when we were seven years old. She sat next to me in class and as the best student in the class, she was always winning pieces of candy from the teacher. One day, I’d had enough of watching her eating candy. I wanted to share in the candy with her, so I sent her a note:
Do you want to be my best friend?
Yes
No
She responded with a “Maybe” and that was the beginning of our friendship.
Chapter One
There are a few things you should know about me. I’m a fine young Southern Gentleman. I open doors for women, most of the time. I know how to ballroom dance. I know how to woo. And I know how to drink with the best of them. Many women think I’m hot, or sexy, or whatever you want to call it. I’m not sure if I’m really that hot or if there’s a drought of hot men in South Carolina. Yes, I’m a good ol’ boy. Though, in reality, I’m not a good ol’ boy in anyway. Though, that’s no secret. I like to have a good time, I like women, and I’m not afraid to speak my mind. The only other thing you should know about me is that I have one friendship that I cherish above all others. That’s my friendship with Clementine O’Hara. She was my best friend and the only person in the world I didn’t try and screw around with.
***
Clementine O’Hara had been blessed with one of the worst names I’d ever heard. It was hard to say her full name with a straight face. It was even harder to say her nickname without bursting out laughing. “Clemmie, what are you doing tonight?” I stared into her serious brown eyes as she scribbled something in her notepad.
“Why?” She looked up at me and frowned. Her lips were stained navy blue from the pen she’d been nibbling on every few minutes.
“I was hoping that…”
“No.” She shook her head and went back to scribbling furiously.
“You don’t even know what you’re saying no to.”
“I know you, Rhett and the answer is no.”
“Come on, Clemmie.”
“Does it involve a girl?” She cocked her head and looked at me with narrowed eyes.
“No,” I shook my head and gave her my lazy smile. She rolled her eyes at me and I laughed. Clemmie was not one to fall for my sweet smile and big blue eyes.
“So what does it involve?”
“It involves girls, plural.” I grinned. “I kinda double-booked tonight.”
“So cancel on one.”
“I don’t want to cancel on either of them.” I sat down on the edge of her bed. “That wouldn’t be fair to either of them.”
“Why not?”
“I’m sure they’ve been planning what they’re going to wear since I asked them out.”
“Rhett Madison, you’re an ass**le.” She shook her head at me. “Now leave, I’m trying to write.”
“Some friend you are.” I tried again. “I thought I could count on my best friend to help me out in a jam.”
“Then I suggest you get a new best friend, preferably a guy.” She laughed as I made a face at her. “Because you are never going to convince me to act as your wingwoman again. No way, Jose. Not after last time.”
“You weren’t my wingwoman, Clemmie.” I pulled her ponytail and laughed. “You were just helping me out in a jam.”
“Well, Brittany sure didn’t seem to think I was helping out.” She shook her head and shuddered. “What a mess that night was.”
“Did I blame you?” I grinned at her.
“Blame me?” Her jaw dropped open. “I know you’re not going there. I was stuck listening to her going on about how great you were for two hours. I’ve never met a more boring, insipid woman in all my life.”
“Is that why you told her I was on a date with someone else? After I told you that I absolutely didn’t want her to know?”
“Rhett, you should be thanking me. What did you see in her?” She gave me a look. “Oh, wait, I know, her big boobs and blonde hair.”
“Hey, she was hot and she was willing.” I shrugged. “I’m 21, in the prime sexual peak of my life. I wasn’t about to say no.”
“Trust me, I know.” She rolled her eyes.
“Come on, Clem. Please?” I gave her my best puppy-dog face and she laughed.
“Unlike you, Rhett Madison. I can say no quite easily.”
“Clementine O’Hara, please do not make me beg.”
“I’m not going to make you do anything.”
“I’ll take you out to a nice dinner next weekend.”
“Hmm, steakhouse?” She grinned and rubbed her stomach. I knew the way to Clementine’s heart and goodwill was through her stomach. It was ironic in a way seeing as I was the man, but I knew she was always down for a good steak dinner.
“Any steakhouse you want, baby.”
“Let me think…” She stared at me and then grinned. “That’s still a no.”
“What if I add a couple of bottles of wine?”
“Do you want me to run my mouth again?” She raised an eyebrow at me and started laughing. Her brown eyes flashed at mine in humor and I groaned. “You know I’m likely to slip up and say something I shouldn’t.”
“You suck.” I lay back on the bed. “What am I going to do?”
“Just cancel on one of them. It’s not going to kill you.”
“You don’t know that.” I grabbed her fluffy white pillow and placed it under my head. “Why does this smell so good?” I buried my nose into her pillow and sniffed. It smelled sweet and flowery and totally girly.
“Because I did laundry yesterday.” She shrugged. “You would know the smell if you did laundry as well.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“I can’t believe you still take your laundry home.” She shook her head. “That’s crazy.”
“Do you want to do it for me, then?” I smiled at her sweetly. “I’m sure Dolores would be happy to have one less chore to do.”
“Dolores gets paid. I don’t.” She shook her head.
“I can pay you if you want.” I gave her one of my signature looks. “I can pay you in any way that you want.”
“Are you offering me the job of your maid?” Her eyes were full of light and mischief and I laughed.
“I’m not sure I could afford you.”