Page 73 of Skate the Line

“Well, aren’t we two peas in a pod,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood.

A faint chuckle leaves him. He glances at the floor again before pushing off the dresser and toward the door.

At the last second, he peers over his shoulder at me. “Yeah, but just because I don’t date doesn’t mean I’m celibate.”

My lips part, and I dart my gaze away.

It wasn’t meant to be a dig, and I know he didn’t say it to offend me. His tone was matter-of-fact, like he wanted me to know that the articles about him aren’t true. But I’m still offended.

Something slashes at my confidence. It’s not stupid of me to have reservations about men after what happened, but it’s taking me a lot longer than I’d like to move past it.

“Don’t feel bad, Sunshine.”

My head flies upward, and I snag Rhodes’s tall frame still standing by the door. His intense gaze moves over my face before he shrugs. “When you’re ready, you’re ready.”

A barely-there smile works itself on my face, but it’s as fake as can be.

Rhodes grips the top of the door frame, and suddenly, something hot is rushing through me. His biceps ball up with strength, and his black tee rides up just enough that I can see the cut V shape leading to below his Nike sweats. “If you ever want to go on a date with someone, you’re welcome to—just on your off nights.”

My cheeks burn. “Thanks for your permission.”Ugh.

His eyes narrow. “Just no one on the team.”

I raise an eyebrow.Oh, is that right?

“And you can’t bring them back here.”

I would never.

“For Ellie’s sake, you know,” he adds.

Obviously.

The room is tense. He stares at me like there’s something else he wants to say, but I don’t give him the chance.

“You can too. I’m always open to watching Ellie for you if you…”—my words trail, and I clear my throat—“want to…take someone out on a…date.”

There’s a shift in the air. I drop my gaze to his mouth and briefly wonder what he’s like when he’s intimate with someone. He’ssoimpassive and rarely smiles, but when he does, it’s like a punch to the gut. His dark chuckle is hot and—oh my god.

My thoughts come to a sudden halt.

I think Rhodes is the first guy I’ve laid eyes on in nearly a year that has stirred up something other than fear.

“Where’s Ellie?” I blurt.

Rhodes pushes off the edge of my door. “With Marco, filling the bird feeder, but you have the day off, remember?”

I watch him pull his phone out while standing in my doorway, and then my phone pings.

“There.”

I ignore the three messages from Ruby that are full of fake apologies and laughing emojis and see that Rhodes has synced our calendars.

“Now you’ll know when you’re available for dates.” I flip through the days of the week and note all his upcoming games and practices that are already posted on the fridge downstairs. “And if a date pops up in my schedule, you’ll be alerted.”

The tiniest seed of envy plants itself inside my lower stomach.

I’ve had my fair share of dating and one-night stands in my early twenties, but as soon as I began nannying to help my nana with the cost of medical bills for Gramps, I turned… What was the phrase Rhodes used so kindly?Celibate.

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