Page 17 of Where We Call Home

I hesitated—just for a second—because for someone who prided herself on independence, I had an undeniable soft spot for chivalry.

“I’ll, uh, see you soon?” Rhodes asked, almost hesitantly.

I nodded, biting back a smile as I tucked a pigtail behind my back and climbed into my car.

When I glanced up again, he was leaning against his truck bed, arms crossed, watching to make sure I pulled away safely.

And, okay…thatmade my chest ache a little.

By the time I got home, I was a puddle of emotions thinking about my interaction at the store. Rhodes was kind. Gentle. Thoughtful. Typically traits I stayed far away from. And those green eyes? A whole other level of trouble.

I sprawled out on my bed with snacks spread around me, and queued up a true crime documentary. No matter how much I tried to focus, my thoughts kept circling back to him.

He seemed interested in me which made me nervous. Men didn’t have that effect on me, in fact, they were typically the ones quaking in my presence. I was to the point and often clear on my expectations. A woman who set things straight tended to send men running.

I’d been confident in who I was but lately, I was starting to question a lot about who I reallywantedto be.

At some point, with my thoughts distracted, I grabbed my phone, hovering over Rhodes’ contact. Should I text him? Call? Wait forhimto text first? I was overthinking this and I wasn’t an overthinker.

Before I could decide, my screen lit up with his name flashing in big, black letters. Was he reading my mind?

I squealed, tossing the phone onto my bed like it shocked me and covered my face. When the buzzing stopped, I cautiously picked it up, only for it to buzz again. A voicemail.

Not only did he leave his phone unlocked, called instead of texted–he left voicemails too? That should’ve been a red flag but it was oddly refreshing.

I hesitated, then hit play.

“Hey, Theo. It’s, uh, me, Rhodes. You already know that, so I don’t know why I said it. I was calling to follow up about dinner sometime. I guess… give me a call back. See ya.”

The message ended with a soft click, and I instantly wanted to replay it. Rhodes was adorable.

Contradicting every ounce of badass energy I’d tried to channel earlier, I sent him a text instead of calling back.

Theo: Sorry for missing your call! I had my phone on silent. I listened to your message. I’d love to come over for dinner!

Why was I so affected by this? I didn’t like the feelings of anticipation and anxiety that short-circuited my system.

Rhodes: Cool! What times and days work best for you?

I was free all the time. I had so much free time. Maybe I shouldn’t answer right away, or maybe I should tell him I’ll have to check my schedule. Exactly, add some mystery.

Theo: Let me check and get back to you!

Rhodes:

Why didn’t I say yes and be done with it? Nerves took over and controlled my actions. Tilting my head back and letting out a deep groan, I locked my screen and tossed my phone as far away on the bed as I could.

Five

Today was packed with doctor appointments and bloodwork. The visits were more frequent than usual because of my mom’s history while pregnant. Those issues have put me at higher risk.

My mom struggled to conceive, so when I came along, it was nothing short of a blessing. During her pregnancy, she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and faced a slew of other challenges.

I was at a high risk of having the same. A diagnosis like that came with a lot—medications, injections, strict dietary changes. Because I was measuring larger than expected, my doctor added “keep a close eye” to the checklist. I was patiently waiting for the milestone to have that testing done to officially have my answer. The worry lingered, not because I doubted my ability to manage a new routine, but because of what it could mean for the baby’s health or the delivery itself.

Pregnancy could be terrifying.

At first, the idea of a tiny human growing inside me was unnerving. Now, I’d bonded with her so deeply I couldn’t imagine not carrying her. The connection was overwhelming and I could only wonder how much stronger it would feel when she was actually here. I couldn’t wait to hold her, kiss her tiny cheeks, and watch her grow.

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