Page 16 of The Road Trip Romance

“Exactly. Just…consider yourself forewarned,” I add.

“Dude, this is crazy,” Mark whispers.

“You’re telling me. I’ll see you in a bit,” I say as I hang up and go back inside, shaking my head. Mark’s right, this is crazy. I laugh out loud because honestly at this point, I don’t think anything could surprise me.

I’m about to text Marti when the doorbell rings as I’m clearing some things off the kitchen counter. I frown because that’s way too fast for Mark to have gotten over here.

“Coming,” I call out as I turn and walk to the front door. I curse as I trip on a Lego while making my way down the hallway.

“Where the hell did that even come from?” I groan as I rub my foot. I make it to the door, still trying to figure out who could be here. A neighbor, maybe?

I go to check my video doorbell and realize it’s out of battery. Damn. I hope it isn’t someone selling something.

I slowly open the door, and as my eyes take in the people standing there, my brain shuts down for a few seconds becausenowI’mverysure I’m hallucinating. Yes, that’s it. Hallucinating.

I know Tate has actor friends. I know that he didn’t tell them where he went.

Yet, standing in front of me are three of the most famous actors in the world. Penn Baker, Jordan Quinn, and Rex Marshall. My mouth falls open, but no words come out. I watch Rex’s lips twitch into a smile.

“Hi, I—” he starts.

“Rex Marshall,” I finish as my brain suddenly turns back on. “Penn Baker, and Jordan Quinn.” Rex scratches the back of his head and nods.

I don’t say anything else as I step to the side and put out a hand, motioning them inside my home. They all look at one another before stepping inside. These three huge men take up my entire small foyer, making my house look like some sort of clown car or dollhouse.

“Hey, Sophia, who’s at the…” Tate’s voice trails off and he stops mid-step as his friends come into view.

“It appears that you have company,” I state as I look up at him. His face is frozen in shock and for a minute I contemplate whether I should go hold him up so he doesn’t tumble down the stairs.

“Mom!” Cal cries out as he starts to run down the stairs, pushing past Tate. He also comes to an abrupt halt as he sees who is standing in the foyer. I watch as recognition flashes on his face. Cal opens his mouth to speak and then closes it again. He repeats this twice more, making him look more like a fish trying to breathe than a child overwhelmed by his houseguests.

The silence of Tate’s shock and Cal’s brain freeze over seeing more famous people in the house is cut short by Lizzie.

“Move over,” she grumbles as she pushes past both Tate and Cal before she too sees the three men standing in the foyer. Her face lights up immediately.

“OMG! Tate, you didn’t tell me your friends are superheroes and spies! I mean in the movies! This is sooo cool! Sage and Alexis are never going to believe this. Hi, I’m Lizzie. Can I get a photo? Mom, where’s your phone?” Her questions come out in rapid fire, yet no one responds. Penn, Jordan, and Rex are still staring at Tate and vice versa. Cal also seems unable to comprehend it all.

It’s Penn who clears his throat first.

“Uh, sure,” Penn says as he pulls out his phone and motions for her to come over to him.

“Wait, hold on,” I finally say as the cogs in my brain start moving again. “Lizzie, you can get a photo later, we are late. Dad is going to be here soon. Cal, go grab your bags and bring them down here before Dad arrives.”

If Mark was flustered by the idea of Tate being here, he is totally going to lose his shit when he sees the three men standing in front of me. I pinch the bridge of my nose as I attempt to pull myself back into this new reality.

“How did you…why are you…” I falter as I take a deep breath and start again. “Sorry, please come in. Can I get you something to drink?” I say as I remember my manners and then realize they are already inside my house, and I sound like a total lunatic.

“Oh, wait, I’ll do it,” Lizzie says enthusiastically as she walks up to the men. I fight a smile as I watch my daughter standing in front of them. They tower over her but she has zero fear and seems not even the least starstruck while Cal hasn’t moved from Tate’s side on the staircase.

“We have water, milk, diet soda, and orange juice…oh, and fruit punch drink boxes,” Lizzie says as if she’s a waitress at a restaurant.

“Thanks, Lizzie, but we are good for now,” Rex replies.

Lizzie turns to me. “Mom, please can I get a photo?”

Penn holds out his hand and Lizzie grabs her tablet out of the backpack she’s wearing. She pulls up the camera app and hands it to him.

“Tate,” he says, motioning for Tate to come over.

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