Page 40 of Where We Call Home

The drive was silent, not in a comfortable way. I had too much on my mind to make small talk. I couldn’t bring myself to bring up what had happened earlier—us holding hands, me saying we were together. Just the potential of Rhodes questioning why I said yes made my stomach churn. My composure was already hanging by a thread.

What were we even doing? Spending time together was easy, sure, but there were no labels, and maybe that’s why it worked.

By the time I stopped spiraling, we were pulling up to the second apartment.

This one looked promising. The bushes were alive, the area seemed well-kept, and there weren’t too many steps. It felt like a good omen however small.

As Cassie unlocked the door, Rhodes placed his hand on the small of my back, urging me forward. The warmth of his touch steadied me as we followed her inside.

When the door swung open, I froze in awe. This place was everything I’d been searching for. The open floor plan was clean and modern, and it didn’t feel cramped. Everything looked brand new.

A breakfast bar separated the kitchen from the living room, and large windows overlooked a well-kept parking lot. I wandered further in, taking in every detail. Rhodes trailed close behind as I stepped into the first bedroom. It had its own full bathroom attached, complete with a tub and a massive walk-in closet.

I spun around to face Rhodes, unable to stop the grin spreading across my face. He was smiling, too.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“It’s perfect,” I whispered, excitement bubbling under my breath as I tried not to let Cassie overhear.

I could already picture how I’d set it up—my bed in the corner, my baby girl’s bassinet nearby. The second bedroom could be her nursery when she was old enough. This place wasn’t just an apartment; it was a potential home, a space where we could start our lives.

Instinctively, my hand drifted to my bump. The realization hit me hard, bringing tears to my eyes. When I glanced up, I caught Rhodes staring at my belly, his expression softer than I’d ever seen. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he stepped toward me. For a second, it felt like the rest of the world disappeared.

Then Cassie’s voice cut through.

“So, this apartment is a little out of your budget.”

Her words hit like a slap. My bubble popped so violently it almost left me dizzy.

Rhodes’s smile vanished as fast as mine. He turned to face Cassie, voice tight. “How much?”

She hesitated, her eyes darting to her iPad. “A little less than double. But Ihadto show it to you!”

My temper flared instantly. “Why?” I snapped, stepping forward. “So I could get my hopes up just to have them crushed? To feel like life was finally about to begin, only to have it yanked out from under me?”

I was on a rampage now, anger burning away any restraint. “You knew my budget before we started! Howdareyou bring me here knowing damn well I couldn’t afford it.”

Silence filled the space at my outburst.

Cassie shrank back as I stormed out the door. Before descending the steps, I spun around for one last jab. “Oh, and by the way? Your pantsuit is dumb, and your car is ugly.”

The tantrum was cathartic, but the fallout hit me like a freight train. When I got to the sidewalk. I yanked on the handle of Rhodes’s truck, only to find it locked. Of course, he’d locked it. The man was too rational for his own good.

Sniffling, I slumped against the tailgate, resting my head on the cool metal. Two apartments, and neither worked when the options were already limited. I was running out of time with just fourteen weeks left, and I still didn’t have a place to bring my baby home to.

I took a deep breath and finally looked up to seehim. His warm, reassuring smile made my chest tighten. Rhodes sat down on the bumper and shifted closer until our shoulders touched, a quiet but steady presence. Letting my head rest against his bicep, I felt a flicker of calm seep in, like I could finally start piecing myself back together.

“I know,” I sighed in defeat. “I was really mean, wasn’t I?”

“You should’ve seen Cassie’s face when you insulted her car and pantsuit. Ruthless. But also kind of hilarious.”

Despite myself, I laughed. Rhodes had this way of knowing when to lighten the mood. His hand found its way to my thigh, grounding me the same way it had that day at The Tequila Cowboy.

Rhodes made me feel safe, like my emotions, messy and raw, weren’t too much for him. Like I could lay them bare without fear of judgment. It was a glimpse of the version of myself I could be if I didn’t feel so heavy.

“I’m such an asshole,” I mumbled.

“You’re not an asshole,” Rhodes said firmly. “But maybe send Cassie an apology card. And a candle. After we get food.”

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