Page 54 of Reckless Love
“Can you come? I’m—scared.”
I already have the keys and am sprinting to the garage.
“What’s going on, Elle? Talk to me, love.”
“I’m okay. I’m just trying not to freak out. I was…pulling into the driveway and something caught my eye. There was a…one of those…” She pauses and the suspense is killing me, but I try not to rush her. “A blow-up doll, like one of those,” her voice lowers into the phone, “sex dolls? It was leaning against Brock’s truck. Rhodes, it looks like me!” She talks faster. “And that was just starting to register when Brock walked over to it and just stood there next to it,staringat me!”
“Fucking creeper,” I mutter. “I’m on my way. Are you inside, doors locked?”
“Yes.” She took a deep, shaky breath. “I didn’t react until I got inside and now I can’t stop shaking.”
“I’m two minutes away, baby. I’ll knock, but make sure it’s me before you open the door. Are you able to get some things together? If not, just wait until I’m there and I’ll help you. I’m bringing you back home with me, okay?”
“I can get some things really quick. I’m going to my bathroom right now to get my overnight bag.”
“Stay on the phone with me, okay? And as soon as we get back to my place, we can make a few calls about how to handle this.”
“Okay.”
“Breathe,” I tell her, and it calms me when I hear her taking deep breaths, each one sounding less shaky than the last. “That’s it.”
“Thank you,” she says and I can tell she’s put me on speakerphone. “It’s helping.”
“I guess I’m getting my wish today after all,” I say.
“What wish?”
“You’re moving in with me tonight.”
She laughs. It’s light, but the sound calms me even more.
“This will probably be the craziest thing we’ve ever done,” she says.
“I think it will be the best thing we’ve ever done,” I say. “And it’s been a long time coming.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
REBELS AND DECEPTION
ELLE
Now
I’ve never been sorelieved to see Rhodes in all my life. It's not that I necessarily think Brock is going to storm over here and act on the scary sexual vibes he’s putting out there, but I'm also not sure he won't. The whole thing creeps me outway too much.
As soon as I let Rhodes in the door, he hugs me tight and then pulls back to look at me.
“Are you okay?”
I nod and he frowns, still not sure.
“What do we need to take? I can grab as much as you need now or come back later.” He points at the bag sitting by the door. “Or we can just take that and get out of here.”
“I like that option. Let’s get out of here,” I say.
“Okay.”
He picks up the small bag and puts his arm around my shoulder protectively, glancing at me.