Page 45 of Skate the Line

“Good evening, dear.”

I scoff with amusement. “You’re awfully fast for your age, Marco.”

He smiles. “I have to keep up with you, don’t I?”

I roll my eyes playfully and drag my suitcase behind me. Marco bends to take it, but I pull it away. He shoots me a look, and I smile triumphantly. The street is becoming busier with those frat parties that have been keeping me up at night. Marco glances down the street a couple of times and continues to walk beside me when I go back for my smaller bag.

“Should I add bodyguard to your bio?” I tease.

His lips flatten, hiding his wrinkles. “Just following the boss’s orders.”

“What orders?”

He hums under his breath, and that’s the only answer I get.

I cross my arms after I slide into the passenger seat. “I see where your loyalty lies.”

Marco chuckles and takes off down the street.

“I won’t hold it against you, considering hedoespay you,” I mumble.

It doesn’t take long to get to my new living quarters.

Nerves gnaw on my stomach as I toss around my sudden decision to move into Rhodes’s house. It does make things easier—on both of us. If only I could rid myself of the lingering concern.

“Sunny!”

Ellie comes bouncing out the front door in a T-shirt ten sizes too big for her. It’s a Chicago Blue Devils shirt that I’m assumingis Rhodes’s. Her hair is wet and slaps me in the face when I bend to give her a hug.

I gasp. “Get back inside, Rapunzel! You’re going to catch a cold!” I leave my suitcase where it is and swoop her into my arms. I rush us to the front door with her giggle echoing around us.

Rhodes stands there in nothing but jeans and a black tee. When he sees us coming for him, he quickly moves out of our way.

“How does she have so much energy?” I hear him ask Marco.

“Who? Ellie or Ms. Edwards?”Marco replies.

I laugh to myself and place Ellie on the couch. I wrap her up in a blanket like a burrito, something that makes her laugh again, and go back for my suitcase.

Both men are in the entryway with my suitcase and bag.

Rhodes glances at me briefly as I slowly make my way over to him. “Thank you,” I say, reaching for my bags.

Without pausing his conversation with Marco, he pulls them out of my reach.

I huff, and he ignores me.

“Alright, Ms. Edwards. I’ll be back in the morning to deliver Rapunzel to school.”

“Marco,” I warn. “It’s Sunny.”

He salutes me. “Goodnight, Sunny.”

“Goodnight, Marco.” I salute back.

When Rhodes is distracted, I try to reach for my suitcase again.

He pulls them away. “Will you knock it off?”

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