Page 180 of Skate the Line

He sighs. “Just tell me you will.”

“I will.”

A dark cloud of dread heads my way. I’m already on edge because of the text, which Rhodes is unaware of, so why is he acting so protective?

“Did something happen?” I ask.

He stares down into my eyes and answers quietly. “Nothing you need to be concerned about.”

I attempt to ask him again, but my thoughts jumble when he slips his hand around my waist and pulls me in close. I forget where I am when his mouth covers mine. Our tongues dance together, and I’m suddenly spinning.

Ellie’s loud laughter breaks us apart.

I lick my lip, and he winks.

Then we part and act like nothing happened.

Something absolutely did, though.

I’m just not sure what.

I reread the text I got from Rhodes for the third time, and I’m still confused.

Slipping away from Ellie and Marco, who are finishing up a game of Uno before we head to dinner—something Marco insisted on—I read the message again.

Rhodes: Excuse me?

After not being able to decipher what Rhodes is talking about, I text back.

Me: What?

He must have his phone in hand because I hardly hit send before he’s firing off another message.

Rhodes: You’re going on a dinner date? Tonight?

I think for a second and then suddenly realize what he’s referring to.

I swipe the texts away and pull up the calendar. I put “dinner date”in the calendar so he’d know what we were up to with him being states away, but apparently, he isn’t aware that Marco is the one taking Ellie and me out for dinner.

He thinks I’m going on a date.

Is he jealous? Or angry?

Does he really think I’d go on a date tonight? With him away and Ellie in my care?

I’m almost offended.

My nose scrunches.

You know what, Iamoffended.

Typing bubbles pop up, then they disappear. I begin to type furiously, angry that he thinks I’d leave her, but then the bubbles pop up again, and my phone vibrates.

Rhodes: Cancel your date.

I thought he knew me better than this.

I hit send on my previously typed message and wait.

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