Page 26 of Reckless Love

“Consider it done,” I say, laughing.

Rhodes is quieter than usual. I can tell the guys are even uncertain of how to pull him out of it. After we’ve eaten and the band starts playing, Rhodes goes to get drinks for us, and Bowie and Penn follow.

“You guys should go dance. You don’t have many chances like this without Caleb,” I tell Sadie and Weston.

“Are you gonna come too?” Sadie asks.

“Yes…after I have a drink. Go.” I grin, nudging her.

I watch as they stand up and then turn to see the guys talking by the bar. Rhodes’ eyes meet mine and go from looking at me with appreciation to scowling. I jump when a hand touches my arm and turn to see my ex, Bernard.

Can I not have one night out without drama?

CHAPTER EIGHT

SAFE ZONE

RHODES

Then

I crawledinto bed and pulled the covers to my chin. I needed to spend my Sunday catching up on homework, and I would, but first, a nap. I closed my eyes, thinking of the way Elle looked in her tank and shorts when I left her dorm room last night. I couldn’t stop sneaking looks at herbody and she couldn’t stop talking about Alfie, the guy who kept flirting with her in one of her classes. She didn’t actually talk about him all that much…it just stood out and made me feel weird. Sometimes I wondered if she talked about guys just to see my reaction. She pointed out cute girls all the time and asked what I thought of them and I tried to change the subject every time because it felt disloyal to her.

I was still trying so hard to keep it straight in my mind that we were just friends. College pact and all that.

Sometimes the lines blurred. There were times when it seemed she was trying to prove to both of us that we were just friends, and times when I saw the way her eyes lingered on me longer than usual too.

My phone woke me up a while later, vibrating under the covers next to me. I picked it up and tried to focus, but the room was dark and quiet and my eyes were still blurry from sleeping for…geez, I’d been out of it for a few hours.

Elle

Meet me at The Big Kahuna in twenty?

I grinned at my phone and hopped out of bed, stumbling to the bathroom. Groaning, I snapped a picture of my bedhead and fingered through my waves, touching up the out-of-control areas with a product from my mom’s line. When I was happy with the results, I texted my mom really quick.

Hey, Mama. I’m gonna need more of this new product you gave me to try. Game-changer. I looked like shit and now I look like your son. :)

Mama

Let me see that sweet face.

I smirked and sent her the bedhead picture and then took one of the new and improved look.

Mama

Lord, have mercy. This product works miracles! I’ll send you more right away.

I chuckled to myself and then knowing her so well, I waited only a second before the second text came through and laughed harder.

Mama

You know I think you’re perfect no matter what, baby. But that second shot sure is prettier. ;) You doing anything fun tonight?

Just hanging with Elle.

Mama

Sounds like that’s your favorite thing to do these days. You got any updates for me?