Page 123 of It Must Be Fate

He steps back, pulling her out of my reach. “I can carry her. Just show me where you want me to put her down.”

“I can walk,” Ivy offers.

He narrows his eyes at her. “No, you can’t.”

She blinks at him, her cheeks turning a pretty pink color, but doesn’t argue.

“You’re a good friend, Rhodes. Come on, you can put her down here,” I say, tapping the counter with my palm.

It’s Rhodes’s turn to go red. It would go unnoticed by a stranger, but his loved ones know his ears turn red whenever hefeels a strong emotion. Ivy’s eyes move over to his ears as well, not missing a thing.

Rhodes marches up to the counter and sets her gently down. It’s as he steps back that I notice the beads of sweat coursing down the back of his neck and his temple. He shakes out his arms surreptitiously. Ivy doesn’t see it, but I do.

It’s as I thought—carrying her took a physical toll on him.

I set about getting the first aid kit and taking out the necessary items to clean Ivy’s wound as they continue talking to each other like I’m not there.

“I’m so sorry.”

“I told you, it’s not your fault. It was so fun, I’m getting right back on as soon as Aunt B is done cleaning me up.”

Rhodes stiffens. “No, you’re not.”

She lifts her chin defiantly at him. “I want to.”

“No.”

“You’re not the boss of me, Rhodes Royal. I’m getting back on that bike and you’re going to take me around like befo—ouch.”

Ivy winces when I apply the antiseptic to her cut. Rhodes takes a hacked step forward, his wild eyes pinned on her knee.

“That stings,” she whispers softly.

I pull the soaked cotton pad away from the wound. Looking up into her eyes, I find them glassy for the first time since she was hurt.

I’m about to offer apologies when Rhodes takes her hand, clutching her fingers in his with determined strength. I watch as he squeezes her palm and glances back at her.

“You’re the toughest girl I know. You’ve got this.”

Ivy’s tears disappear before they can fall, replaced with a smile that starts off small and grows until it stretches across her entire face.

She nods at me. “Go ahead, Aunt B. I’m ready.”

I bite back a smile. This would absolutelykillThayer and there’s no way I’m going to do the story justice when I try to recreate it for her tonight.

I get back to work, disinfecting, drying, and eventually putting a Band-Aid over the cut on Ivy’s knee. Rhodes holds her hand the entire time and doesn’t say another word.

When I’m done, he looks up at her with those disarming eyes of his. “Can we watch a movie now? I’ll let you pick,” he adds, sweetening the deal. Then, softer, “Please.”

Her eyes stroke silently over his face. She must see the same worry in it that I do because she swallows and nods her agreement.

I’d anticipated that the afternoon might end there, so I say, “I put snacks in the cinema room if you want to go watch the movie there.”

“Thanks, Mum.”

The doorbell rings, surprising all three of us.

Rhodes throws me a questioning look when I sigh and shake my head.

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