Page 49 of Reckless Love

Rhodes

I see what you did there.

You like that?

Rhodes

I like everything about you, Elle.

Gah. See what I mean? He’s always been so sweet to me, but I don’t know. This just feels…a little more.

You’re pretty okay too.

Rhodes

Mm-hmm. Remember when you wrote that short story in your creative writing class senior year and it was published in the school paper?

You’ll never let me forget.

Rhodes

It was an excellent story about a brilliant guy who never gave up.

Hmm. Did I use the word brilliant? I don’t think so.

Rhodes

I’ll check when I get home because I’m almost positive the story said he was brilliant and super sexy.

I snort.

I know I didn’t say he was super sexy. And what do you mean you’ll check it—you still have the story?

Rhodes

Hell yeah! It’s in a special box I keep with everything you ever wrote. I miss reading your stories. Do you ever miss writing?

I swallow hard, fingers pausing over the keyboard. It’s been painfully difficult not sharing everything that’s happened with my book with him. He would be so, so proud.

I still write sometimes.

It feels good to say even this much of the truth.

Rhodes

Really? That makes me happy, Elle. You never talk about it anymore. I thought you’d given it up. You’ve always had such a way with words.

Thank you. You always made me feel like my writing was important.

Rhodes

It was. It is. You are.

My eyes fill with tears and drip down my cheeks. How did I get so lucky to have him in my life all these years?

No one compares to him.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN