Page 75 of The Road Trip Romance

“Well, glad you two are well. I just need to sort out some guests. I’ll catch up with you later,” she says with a wave.

“How many movie stars have you got staying there?” George asks.

Penn’s shoulders begin to shake with laughter and Rex snorts. Anissa laughs out loud.

“Just a few,” she says.

“You should be careful what you do in public. Your photo is all over the interwebs,” Wanda says.

“I heard that. Thanks for the suggestion,” Sophia says with a slight roll of her eyes.

A car pulls up to the house and everyone turns to Rex. I lean forward and hug him. “Thanks, man. I’m glad you guys came,” I say as I pull back.

“Me too. I think I needed that about as much as you did,” he confesses before hugging Penn and Sophia.

“Remember, you’re always welcome at either of my homes,” he says to her. “And you have my number, so call if you need anything.”

She salutes him with a wink. “Will do,” she says.

“At ease, M. Just keep this knucklehead under control, yeah?” he adds as he opens the back door of the SUV.

“I’ll do my best. But he’s got it from here,” she says as he waves to us and gets in, shutting the door before the car pulls out into the street. What does she mean thatI got it from here? I look down at her, curious about her choice of words, but I just decide to let it go for now. It’s been a crazy day. Maybe we all just need a few hours to rest and recalibrate.

We walk inside and I immediately smell something amazing.

“You cooked?” Sophia asks Anissa.

She shrugs as we follow her into the kitchen.

“Holy fuck! Are those Colombian tamales and empanadas?” Penn asks as he practically lunges at the countertop in the kitchen.

“And arepas stuffed with queso,” Anissa adds with a grin. “Help yourselves, weary travelers.”

“Thanks,” Sophia says as she gives her a side hug and cheek kiss. “You’re the best.”

“These are fucking amazeballs! I was super obsessed with them when I was down there a few years ago,” Penn manages to say as he chews on an empanada.

“I was bored, and I figured I’d cook,” Anissa explains.

“You just whip up specialties from other countries?” I ask as I take a bite of a tamale. It’s delicious.

“Anissa’s grandmother is Colombian,” Sophia explains.

“That’s cool,” Penn says, grabbing another empanada, a tamale, and two arepas.

“Wow, slow down there, carb loader. What will your trainer say?” I tease.

Penn grunts. “It’s vacation, Tate. Besides,ourtrainer would be happy that I’m eating the chicken empanadas, so we’re all good.”

“You guys have the same trainer?” Sophia asks.

I nod. “Yeah, he’s really good.”

She frowns and nods at the same time. This entire conversation feels weird and I’m not feeling great about things between us. She’s been distant ever since the media stuff earlier today.

“I’m going to call Mark and the kids to let them know we made it back,” Sophia says before I can ask what’s wrong. She makes her way out to her deck and closes the sliding door behind her. I watch as she sits down on a lounge chair and talks on her phone.

“So…you and my bestie, huh?” Anissa asks.

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