Page 53 of The Road Trip Romance

“What?” I ask.

“Their friends had four kids, so the kids way outnumbered the adults. One year we talked them into letting us set up a mini-golf course in the house…it did not go well,” she says.

“Oh?”

“Yep, let’s just say their house was down about three framed pictures, a vase, and two wineglasses afterward,” she adds with a chuckle.

“That sounds fun,” I say.

She lets out a long breath. “It was.”

“Do Cal and Lizzie get in trouble a lot?” I ask.

“No. They really are good kids. Lizzie can be a bit of a spitfire, but she means well. Cal is just the protector, always has been. I’m a pretty lucky mom,” she says with a smile, but her smile doesn’t reach her eyes.

“What?” I prod.

She shrugs. “I always wanted three, just like Casey, Henley, and me.”

“It’s not too late,” I add.

She rolls her eyes. “I’m in my late thirties. I’m not dating…” She pauses realizing that I’m offering her a relationship. I can feel her shutting down as she continues. “Anyhow, I’m happy with my two little minions. They are great.”

I nod. “They are. I enjoyed getting to know them.”

“We should probably go to sleep. Big day tomorrow,” she says. “I mean, maybe,” she adds.

“Yeah…right,” I reply.

“Goodnight, Tate,” she whispers before leaning over and kissing my cheek. Then she turns and lies with her back to me. I stare at her hair for a long time after her breaths give way to cute little snores. I want her. I want to live in her life, be with her kids, hell, even Mark seems cool. I like her nosy neighbors and her family seems amazing. She has the life I want.

I frown. Do I just love her life? I contemplate that as I roll over and look back up at the stars. No. It’s more than that. I love how her eyes light up when she tells a story. I love the way she sings along to every song whether it’s rap or pop or country. I love that she’s smart, funny, and kind. I love the little wrinkle she gets in the middle of her forehead when she’s deep in thought. Fuck. I love Sophia Walsh.

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

Sophia

I wake to hushed voices outside the tent. Rolling over, I realize that one of those voices is most definitely Tate because he’s not in here.

I rub my eyes, trying to replay the events of yesterday in my mind.Holy moly! Did that all happen? Yes, yes, it did. I let Tate fuck me with his fingers and then he told me he was falling for me.Then, I turned him down, sort of. Did I really do that? Is he really not getting back together with Lacey? No, that’s crazy…or is it?

I step out of the tent. The four men I’ve come to adore sit around a campfire which has to have been made with the few dry logs still in my car because everything out here seems like it’s still damp.

“It’s over, Jordan. She’s not the one. I’m calling it all off,” Tate says and then stops as he looks up to see me watching them. The remaining three sets of eyes turn to look at me, and I blush.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” I say as I pull a hoodie around me.

“Morning,” they say in unison.

“We got coffee,” Rex offers as he holds up a cup.

I nod enthusiastically and come sit down on a log by him. He pours me a cup and I sip it. It’s not the best, but it will have to do.

“Good?” he asks.

“Dude, the coffee is shit and you know it,” Penn says.

Rex smirks. “It could be worse. Remember that one set caterer,” he says.

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