Page 12 of Bae

After everything the people in our family had gone through, me not being alone at night at work wasn’t such a crazy request from Romeo. In fact, I kinda preferred it this way, too.

“You don’t have to do that!” I said quickly. “Go home. Watch a movie that isn’t scary.”

Molly laughed. “I know I don’t, but it’s dark out and late…” She glanced toward the front doors. Funny she never worried about that when she left without an escort.

“Is something wrong?” I asked, pushing at the glasses on my nose. My hair was up in a wild bun—I was pretty sure there was a lost pencil in there from when I was doing inventory a couple hours ago—and my sweat pants had dog fur on them.

“Besides the fact that I have an overactive imagination from the movies?” Molly replied.

She was stalling.

I glanced down at her desk, where she’d been focused when I’d walked out. Looked like she had her iPad in front of her. A sour taste coated the back of my tongue.

“What are you reading?” I asked, stepping closer, trying to see the screen.

“Nothing,” she said, moving her arms and cup of tea to cover it.

I was about to call her out on her craptastic lie when I heard a key in the front double doors. Both of us looked up to see Trent slipping inside and shutting the door behind him.

“Hey, sis,” he called out, twirling the keys around his finger.

I loved when he called me that. It was kinda new for him, and every time he said it, warmth bloomed in my chest. I loved having a big family. It was something I didn’t have growing up. Something I never really thought I would have. I definitely never imagined I’d have a bunch of self-appointed brothers who were bossy and maddening.

There was a time when Trent stayed in the background of our family, and then he started to slip away. It hurt, even though we weren’t as close as I would have liked. But then everything changed, he and Drew finally admitted their feelings for each other, and Trent wholly embraced our family. He wasn’t in the background anymore. We were closer now than ever before.

“Hey!” I called back, smiling.

“Sorry I’m late.” He grimaced. “Got held up.”

“Everything okay?” I asked, more suspicion rising inside me.

He nodded.

“Well, I’m out,” Molly said, standing to shrug into a light jacket and pick up her bag, tea, and iPad. “Have a good couple days off, Rimmel. Enjoy your husband.”

Trent was farther into the room now, closer to the desk. As she neared him, I saw her eyes lock on his face. “Lot clear?” she asked low.

That sour taste on my tongue exploded in my mouth.

“Molly,” I said, and she turned. “Can I see what you were reading?” I stepped up and motioned for her iPad.

“It’s embarrassing. Just a silly romance novel.”

“You should never be embarrassed to read. It doesn’t matter what it is.”

Molly opened her mouth to likely make an excuse, but I took the iPad out of her arms and tapped the screen. As soon as it lit up, my back teeth slammed together.

“This is a new one,” I remarked, unable to keep the annoyance out of my tone.

Trent moved to my side and looked down. “Fucking press,” he muttered and moved to take the iPad. “Don’t read that trash, Rim.”

THE DIVORCE IS ON!

Romeo is on top on the field, but where is Rimmel?

Sources say the strain of losing a baby and her inability to conceive again

has put this once royal couple on a fast track to the big D.