“Hey, mini John Mayer,” I called out, hoping I didn’t sound weird and winded from what Rhodes had said. Or was it more like what he’d implied? I’d have to think about it later.
That tiny little pleased expression he tried his best to hide crossed his features as he said, “Hi, Ora.” Then he frowned. “Were you crying?”
He could tell too? “Earlier,” I told him, making my way over and holding out a loose fist since it was the only thing that wasn’t injured.
He fist-bumped me back but must have seen the bandages on my palms because his head jerked a little. “What happened?”
I showed him my hands, elbows, and lifted up the knee with the torn pant leg. “Almost fell off the ridge. Living my best life.”
There was a snicker from the kitchen area that I refused to take too seriously.
The teenager didn’t look amused or impressed.
“I know, right?” I joked weakly.
“What happened?” another voice asked. It was Johnny coming from the hall, wiping his hands on starched khaki pants. He stopped walking when he spotted me. The good-looking man flat-out grinned. “Oh, hi.”
“Hi, Johnny.”
“She’s eating with us,” Rhodes called out from where he was in the kitchen, rooting around in the freezer.
Johnny grinned, flashing bright white teeth that reminded me of why we had gone on a date in the first place, and then started moving again. He held out his hand, and I showed him my palm briefly before flipping it back into a half-assed fist. He bumped it.
“You fall?”
“Yeah.”
“You didn’t make it to the lake then, Ora?” Amos asked.
“No. It happened right at that sketchy ridge of death crossing, and I had to turn around.” I told him the truth. “I’m not in good enough shape yet to do it in a day, apparently. I threw up twice on the way up.”
The kid made a disgusted face that made me laugh.
“I’ll brush my teeth later, don’t worry.”
That disgusted expression went exactly nowhere, and I was pretty sure he leaned away from me. We had come so far. I loved it.
“Are you okay?” Johnny asked.
“I’ll live.”
A blue ice pack was shoved into my face, and I tilted my head back to find Rhodes holding it, the cleft in his chin looking extra adorable right then. “Put this on your shoulder for ten minutes.”
I took it and smiled at him. “Thank you.”
I was pretty sure he muttered, “You’re welcome,” under his breath.
Amos moved the pillow beside him, giving me a pointed look, and I took the spot, setting the ice pack between my collarbone and shoulder with a wince at how cold it was. Johnny took one of the two recliners.
“Pizza should be ready in about ten,” he said to who I figured was Rhodes who didn’t verbally respond. From the sound of it, he was doing something in the kitchen. “What hike did you try and do?”
I told him the name.
Johnny’s smile was flashy. “I haven’t done that one.”
“I thought you said you don’t really like hiking.”
“I don’t.” Was he trying to flirt again?
“Hold that ice pack closer on your back.”
I peeked over my shoulder to find the man who’d spoken in the kitchen, putting up dishes from the dishwasher. I watched his pants stretch across his thighs and butt as he bent over.
Suddenly my hands didn’t hurt so bad.
“Am, don’t forget it’s your dad’s birthday tomorrow. Make sure to call him so he doesn’t cry,” Johnny said, drawing my attention back to them.
“It’s Rhodes’s birthday?” I asked.
“No, Billy’s,” Johnny answered.
“Oh, your stepdad?”
Amos frowned this face that reminded me exactly of Rhodes. “No, he’s my real dad too.” I tried not to make a face, but it must have been obvious I had no idea what he was talking about when Am said, “I have two dads.”
I pursed my lips together and kept on trying to think about it. “But one’s not a step?”
He nodded.
“Okay.” This was none of my business. I knew it. I didn’t need to ask for clarification. But I wanted to. “And you’re his uncle on his… mom’s side?” I asked Johnny.
“Yes.”
Had they been… in a polyamorous relationship? An open relationship? So they didn’t know who the birth father was? Johnny had been fine with his best friend being with his sister?
“Billy’s our other best friend,” Rhodes spoke up from the kitchen. “We’ve all known each other since we were kids.”
Both of his friends had been with his sister? That made no sense. I glanced at Am and Johnny, but neither one of them had an expression that gave me any clues about how this worked out. “So… you were all… together?”
Amos choked, and Johnny busted a gut, but it was Rhodes again who spoke up. “Neither one of you is helping. Billy and Sofie, Am’s mom, wanted to have kids, but Billy had… trauma—”
“He couldn’t have kids,” Am finally supplied. “So he asked Dad. Rhodes. Dad Rhodes. Instead of them using a donor.”
Things finally started clicking.
“Dad Rhodes said yeah, but he wanted to be a dad too and didn’t want to just… donate. Everybody said okay. Now I’m here. Make sense?” Am asked casually.
I nodded. I hadn’t seen that coming.
And suddenly, my little heart swelled. Rhodes’s best friend and his wife wanted to have a child but couldn’t, and he’d agreed, but insisted on being a part of the baby’s life. He’d wanted to be a dad too. Did he think he’d never have kids on his own? With someone else?
It was… it was beautiful.
And my period must have been really close because my eyes filled up with tears and I said, “That’s one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard.”
Two horrified faces looked at me, but it was Rhodes who spoke up sounding the same way. “Are you crying again?”
How could he tell? “Maybe.” I sniffled and turned my attention to Amos who looked like he wasn’t sure whether to comfort me or move away. “That’s the kind of love you have to write about.”
That got him to give me the same skeptical face he’d given me when I’d initially brought up him writing a song about his mom. “You don’t think it’s weird?”
“Are you kidding me? No. What could be weird about it? You had two dads who wanted you but couldn’t have you. You have three people who love you to death, not including your uncle and who knows who else. The rest of us are missing out.”
“Dad’s last girlfriend thought it was weird.”
His last girlfriend? So he did date. I kept my face even.
But it was Rhodes who grumbled, “Am, give me a break. That was ten years ago. I didn’t know how religious she was, how she didn’t even believe in divorce.” I heard the sound of dishes moving around. “I broke up with her right after that. I said I was sorry.”
Amos rolled his eyes. “It was eight years ago. And she was annoying too.”
I pinched my lips together, sucking this interaction and information up.
“You haven’t met any other women I’ve seen since, Am.”
“Yeah, because Mom says you need to dye your hair to get a girlfriend, and you won’t.”
“You’re talking a whole lot of shit considering you might turn out like me and start finding some grays when you’re in your twenties, man,” Rhodes responded, sounding pretty incredulous.
Amos snorted.
And before I could tell myself not to butt in, I did. “I don’t know about that, Am. I like all the silver in your dad’s hair. It’s really nice.” Which I did. Even though I shouldn’t have said it, so I backtracked to cover my steps by throwing out. “And I don’t know about anybody else, but I think it’s beautiful what your parents did. There’s nothing ugly about selflessness and love.”
He took my bait even though he still didn’t believe me. �
�Where’s your dad?” the teenager suddenly asked, trying to change the subject, I guess. “You never talk about him.”
He got me. “I see him every few years. We talk every few months. He lives in Puerto Rico. He and my mom weren’t together for long, and he wasn’t ready to settle down when they had me. They barely knew each other actually. He loves me, I think, but not like your dads love you.”
Amos still scrunched up his nose. “Why didn’t you go live with him after your mom…?”
“He’s not on my birth certificate, and I was already with my uncle and aunt when he found out what had happened. It was better for me to stay with them.”
“That’s messed up.”
“I’ve had so many other sad things happen, that it isn’t even in the top ten, Am,” I told him with a shrug.
And I knew I’d made it awkward when imaginary crickets chirped afterward.
So I was beyond surprised when a hand reached over and patted my forearm.
It was Amos.
I smiled at him and happened to glance over into the kitchen to see another pair of eyes looking in our direction.
The faintest smile was on Rhodes’s face.
Chapter 17
I knew that Jackie had something on her mind when I’d caught her—for the third time—peeking at me and then immediately looking away when she realized she’d been caught.
We still hadn’t talked about the Kaden situation. We just kept on pretending like everything was the same, which it technically should be. She had already known from the beginning.
Now that I’d had time to think about it, I had a feeling that she hadn’t said anything to anyone because then Clara would find out that she’d snooped through her account. And I wasn’t willing to throw her under the bus and get her in trouble either. It really wasn’t that big of a deal to me.
So I was a little surprised when she eventually wandered over and asked slowly and very sweetly, “Aurora?”
“What’s going on?” I asked as I flipped through one of the fishing magazines that we sold in the store. There was an article about rainbow trout that I wanted to check out. The more I learned about them, the more I realized fish were pretty interesting, honestly.
“Amos’s birthday is coming up.”
What? “Really? When?”
“On Wednesday.”
“How old is he turning? Sixteen?”
“Yeah… and I was wondering....”
I looked at her and smiled, hopefully encouraging her.
She smiled back. “Could I use your oven to make him a birthday cake? I want to surprise him. He says he doesn’t like or want one, but it’s his first one without his mom, and I don’t want him to be sad. Or get mad at me. And I’d order one from the bakery but they’re expensive,” she shot off, wringing her hands. “I thought I could make it the day before and then give it to him after I get there, so he’s not expecting it.”
I didn’t even have to think about it. “Sure, Jackie. That sounds nice.” I thought about offering to buy him a cake, but she seemed kind of excited to make it and I didn’t want to ruin it.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Come over Tuesday. I’ll put it in the fridge until you’re ready to get it.”
She squealed. “Yes! Thanks, Aurora!”
“You’re welcome.”
She smiled briefly before glancing away.
I figured I was going to have to get this over with once and for all. Clara was in the back. “You know we’re good, right?”
Her eyes drifted back over, her smile staying small and tight too.
I touched her arm. “It’s okay that you know. It used to be a secret, but it’s not anymore. I just don’t like telling people unless I have to. I’m not mad at all. We’re fine, Jackie. Okay?”
She nodded quickly, then hesitated before asking, “Are you going to tell Amos?”
“I will one day, but I’d like to be the one to tell him. But if you do accidentally, or if you don’t feel comfortable keeping it a secret, I understand that too.”
She seemed to think about it. “No, it’s your business. I’m just sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“It’s okay.”
It looked like she had something on her mind still, so I waited.
I knew I was right. “Can I ask you something?”
I nodded.
She seemed shy all of a sudden. “Did you really write his songs for him?” she whispered.
And that wasn’t what I’d thought she would pull out. I thought maybe she’d ask if he was cute in person or why we’d broken up or anything else. Not… that.
But I told her the truth. “Most of them. Not the last two albums.” I wasn’t taking credit for those hot messes.
Her eyes went wide. “But those you wrote were his best albums!”
I shrugged but inside… well, it was nice.
“I wondered what happened with the last two, but now it makes so much sense,” she claimed. “They sucked.”
Maybe I cared less and less every day about him and his career and his mom. I hadn’t even thought about them in weeks. But…
I still got a real kick out of it.
Suckers.
* * *
Jackie stuck to her plan. Since school had just gotten back in session, she walked over to the shop afterward and rode home with me, so that we wouldn’t alert Amos that she was there. I snuck her in and out of the house. And we baked the two layers of cakes on pans she’d brought over from Clara’s, let them sit out and cool for an hour while she helped me work on a new puzzle. Then we’d decorated the cake to look like a massive Oreo with thick vanilla frosting between the layers and sprinkled cookie crumbs over it.
It looked amazing.
Jackie took about a thousand pictures of it.
And when the time came, she asked me quietly if I could carry it down the stairs for her the next day, and I agreed.
The next evening, I stood at the corner of the building and peeked as she walked over to the main house so slowly balancing that cake, you’d figure she was carrying something priceless. I only went back inside when Rhodes opened the door for her, smiling to myself. Hoping Amos loved it because Jackie had made it with so much effort and excitement.
He was a good kid. I was sure he would.
Speaking of…
We’d seen each other a few days ago, and he hadn’t said a word about his birthday coming up, but I’d stopped and got him a card anyway. I’d sneak it to him the next time we talked.
I was just beginning to sign it when someone knocked.
“Come in!” I hollered, figuring it was Jackie.
But the sound of heavier than normal footsteps had me freezing, and when I heard them on the landing, I turned around to find Rhodes there. Not Jackie or Amos.
We had seen each other since the day he’d found me at the trail. In passing. I’d waved at him from upstairs, he’d come in the other day while Amos and I had been in the garage and he’d checked out my elbows and hands, then sat through another half hour of his child singing. Very, very shyly but singing in front of us, which was a miracle in itself. I guessed he had been serious about the talent show he’d brought up around Yuki. Things had been… good.
And I had tried not to be confused over the little comments he’d dropped along the way.
Specifically him calling me the b-word.
And saying that thing about “who said I don’t like you?”
Now, he was standing there mere feet away from me in jeans, another T-shirt, and black slippers. But it was his wide eyes that interested me the most. “What the hell happened in here?” he asked, eyeing the clothes I had thrown all over the place and the shoes I had kicked off at opposite ends of the room. I was pretty sure he was standing about a foot away from a pair of panties too, to top it off.
I hadn’t cleaned up in… a while.
I grimaced when his gaze met mine. “The wind blew everything around?” I offered.
Rhodes bli
nked. The edges of his mouth tightened for a second before they were back to normal and he glanced up at the ceiling then looked back at me and said, in that dry, bossy voice, “Come on.”
“Where?”
“To the house,” he answered calmly, watching me with those intense gray eyes.
“Why?”
His eyebrows went up. “Do you always ask this many questions when someone’s trying to invite you somewhere?”
I thought about it and smiled. “No.”
The man tipped his head to the side, and his full mouth went flat. Was he trying to hide a smile behind that? His hands went to his hips. “Come to the house to get some pizza and cake, Buddy.”
I hesitated for a second. “Are you sure?”
His tightened mouth melted away, and he just looked at me. For a second. For two. Then he murmured, almost softly, “Yes, Aurora. I’m sure.”
I smiled. Maybe I should’ve asked if he was really sure, but I didn’t want him to take back the offer. So I held up a finger and said, “One minute. I was actually just in the middle of signing his birthday card.”
Rhodes dipped that cute, cleft chin before shifting his attention back to the disaster that was the garage apartment. It wasn’t that bad, but I’d been in his house enough to know our interpretations of “clean” were pretty different. I didn’t have a sink full of dishes or overflowing trash cans, but my clothes had slowly stopped finding their way to my suitcase at some point….
But I focused back on the card and scribbled my friend a little message.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMOS!
I’m so happy we’re friends. Your talent is only overshadowed by your good heart.
Hugs,
Ora
P.S. Diarrhea
Might as well take it back to the moment that started it all, or at least the second moment.
I cackled a little before stuffing bills between the folded card. Then I glanced back at my landlord, who hadn’t moved an inch, and said, “I’m ready. Thank you for inviting me.”
He just looked at me as we walked side by side toward his house.
“Did you have a good day today?” I asked him, taking a peek at his silhouette.
His attention was forward, but his eyebrows were knitted together like he was worried about something. “No.” He let out a heavy sigh before shaking his head. “There was an accident with a little girl and her dad while I was on my way to the office.”
All Rhodes Lead Here Page 26