Page 101 of Reckless Love

I wanted to ask what she meant, but she shivered and I turned on the car.

“I’m terrible. I haven’t even fed you. Let’s get some food in you,” I said.

“Why don’t we just grab something quick at Starlight Cafe? It’s getting late.”

“Are you sure? I have time for somewhere like Rose & Thorn before I have to get to the airport.”

I’d come to Silver Hills for one reason only, to tell Elle about the baby in person. She thought I just had an extra-long layover between flights.

“I’m sure. You should start heading to Denver before the traffic picks up.”

“Trying to get rid of me already,” I tried to tease, but it just sounded sad.

“Never.”

We stopped at Starlight Cafe and got a booth in the back. Fortunately, it was a slower night than the other times we’d come here. We were quiet as we ate. Her eyes were puffy and every time I looked at her, my heart broke a little more.

When I took her home and walked her to the front step, I hugged her hard. We both had tears in our eyes as we pulled apart.

“Promise me something?” she said softly.

“Anything.”

“Whatever happens with Carrie, let me be part of your life with the baby. I know everything is about to change forever, but I’m still your best friend and I want to help. Don’t shut me out, please. It would break my heart too much.”

I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Don’t youknow by now that I can’t live without you? I want you there by me every step of the way for the rest of our lives.”

She nodded. “I want that too, Rhodes.” A tear slipped down her cheek and I caught it with my thumb.

I nodded, the emotion so tight in my throat, I was unable to speak.

She touched my hand on her face and then turned and walked inside.

I cried like a baby on the drive to the airport and then put on my jock/devil-may-care persona, flew home, and tried to figure out what the fuck I was going to do.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

HOME

RHODES

Now

It's latewhen I get home. The lights are dim. I walk back to the bedroom, smiling when I see Elle sleeping in my bed.

I've probably thought through a dozen worst-case scenarios since I’ve been away, all of them involving her notbeing here when I got back, or even being in her room instead of mine. But the fact that she's here, in my bed, gives me hope.

After I’ve brushed my teeth and undressed, I crawl in behind her, pulling her back to my chest. She’s wearing something short and silky and wakes up enough to say, “You’re home,” softly.

“I’m home,” I tell her, kissing her ear.

“I missed you,” she says.

“I missed you too, baby.”

She's already fallen back to sleep. And I don't have it in me to wake her up, even though my body's raring to go.

I wake up a little later, feeling her mouth on me, and my eyes open wide.