Page 101 of Lucky Laces
“Yeah,” King agrees.
Cam nods.
West murmurs, “I hear that.”
And Rhodes…well, Rhodes’ expression is pained.Because he lost the woman he loved, and I’m not sure that wound will ever fully heal.
I exhale, some of the tension leaving my body.
Some, but notall.
Because I don’t love the expression on Rome’s face.
And his words have all my plans for the night disappearing into a puff of smoke.
“You’re both coming to Chrissy’s event tonight.”
I frown.“What event?”
“For her charity,” he says.“Jean-Michel will be there.You can talk to him, put some precautions in place and get ahead of any fallout.”He holds my eyes, as though daring me to put my money where my earlier statement was.
And because it’s not a bad idea (even though I hate that my plans are now fucked), I nod.“We’ll be there.”
“You guys coming too?”Rome asks.
King nods.“You know Rory wouldn’t miss it.”
“Same for Attie,” Cam says.
“Quinn’s been wanting a cat,” West murmurs with a shrug.“We’re already planning on going.”
We all look at Rhodes.
Who lifts his hands in surrender.“No,” he mutters.“Absolutely not.I need a cat in my life like I need a hole in my?—”
“Daddy!”
Chloe beelines down the hall, colliding into his legs.
And the big man goes soft.“What’s up, pumpkin?”
“Chrissy says I can go with her tonight and pet kitties!”
Rhodes sighs and tilts his head back, eyes on the ceiling, mouthing, “Fuck my life.”
He knows like we all know that it’s not going to stop with petting.
He knows a kitten is going home with him and Chloe and that litter box duty is in his future.
Along with feather toys, nighttime feline antics, and ill-timed hairballs.
And yet, we all already know what his answer is going to be, even before he says it out loud.
I still bite back laughter, though, when he drops his chin, expression pained, and says,
“Yeah, baby, we can go to Chrissy’s event.”
Thirty-Three
