Rhodes
Where are you? I’m home and I’ve looked forward to kissing you all day long. Not that you’re supposed to be waiting for me when I get home every day, but…
Rhodes
I can’t believe I sent that needy ass message. Don’t mind me. But I do miss you. And your lips. And every other part of you.
I smile and the girls laugh at me.
“Look at her face. She's lovesick,” Calista says.
I hold up a hand. “Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We slept together. We're fake dating,” I whisper. “And trying not to let anyone but my parents and Bernard know it.”
“Well, good luck with that,” Calista says. “Anyone who sees your face will know what's going on in like, ten seconds.”
I put my head in my hands, laughing. “People have been asking what’s up with me all day. They're complimenting my glowing skin…”
Stephanie nods. “It’s true. I did. As soon as I saw her, I had to know. Guess I just need to have earth-shattering sex to have good skin,” she says, as we all burst out laughing.
“Also, it sounds like you skipped right over the faking and went straight to the dating.” Calista looks very pleased with her deduction.
I groan. “I know. I don't even want to think about it too hard. Just let me have this one night to bask in the incredible way I feel.”
“Baby girl, you don't even have to say it.” Calista puts her hands on my shoulders and squeezes. “I can see it all over your face that you have never felt like this a day in your life. I know I sure as hell didn’t see you even close to this with Bernard.”
I shoot her a look. I don't even want to think about him right now. All the years I wasted, trying to make somethingwork that I knew wasn'tmyidea of happiness, but myparents’vision for my life.
“Yeah, this feels completely different,” I say. “I’m terrified.” I lift my hand again. “Not going there.”
I shoot Rhodes a text.
I like your needy ass messages. I miss you too. I’m at Twinkle Tales. It's Shop by Candlelight on Jupiter Lane.
A little bit later,Rhodes walks into Twinkle Tales with Levi on his shoulders.
“Elle!” Levi yells.
My eyes widen and Rhodes shoots me a guilty look. He sets Levi down and Levi runs over to hug me.
“Hi, little man.”
I lean down so we’re at eye level, and Levi puts both hands on my face. “We look for you and find you,” he says happily.
“What a great surprise,” I say.
“Sorry, I thought we could pretend like this was a chance meeting, but my son kind of blew our cover,” Rhodes says under his breath.
“Couldn’t wait even a second to see our girl, could you, lover boy?” Calista says, smirking.
He grins, the dimples out in perfect display, and I don’t miss the elation that crosses his face when he realizes that I’ve talked to the girls.
“Guilty.” He looks at me. “But we will be going…just in case anyone from the team happens to see us together.” He looks around and holds up a finger. “After I’ve done a little shopping.” He winks and makes a show of going over to the table that has an assortment of books and blindly grabbing a stack.
He sets them on the counter and then sees a few kids’ books and grabs them too. Calista goes over to help him and smiles when she starts ringing up his books. She waves a book and my heart races when I see it.
“Excellent choice. This one was a crowd-pleaser, right, ladies?” She setsIt Was Always Youin his bag and keeps ringing up the rest.
“Oh my God, I have never loved a book more,” Sadie says. She smirks at Rhodes. “I can’t wait to hear what you think about it.”
