Where We Call Home (Faircloud #2)

Chapter 15

Fifteen

I was a bit more dressed up than usual. After all, I had people to impress. Well, one person: the realtor showing me apartments today.

Our list wasn’t long—just two options. That’s all Faircloud seemed to offer. It wasn’t a town geared toward single renters. Family homes dominated the market, and the apartments I’d scrolled through online were either out of my budget or unlivable. I’d saved enough to cover nearly a year of rent, but my budget was tight. Raising my limit would shrink my nest egg and force me back to work sooner, a thought I didn’t want to entertain just yet.

“There you are!” A woman’s bright voice interrupted my thoughts. She approached Rhodes and me on the sidewalk, binder tucked under her arm. Judging by her polished white pantsuit and straight blonde hair, it was Cassie, the realtor.

“I’m Cassie!” she chirped, shaking my hand and then Rhodes’.

She was stunning. Legs for days, a perfect smile, and she smelled like lilacs and sunshine. Her bubbly demeanor was a stark contrast to my more reserved nature. As she turned her attention to Rhodes, my jaw tightened. Her gaze lingered a little too long, and the way she bit her bottom lip, I wasn’t a violent person but…

Suddenly, I wished Rhodes had changed out of his work clothes. Dirt-smudged face and all, he still looked unfairly attractive. The way my thoughts drifted, thinking about how I should’ve climbed on his lap earlier, was almost embarrassing. His compliment hadn’t helped either. Was I really that easy to fluster, or was Rhodes just impossible to resist?

“You must be Theo,” Cassie said, breaking my internal spiral.

“Yup,” I replied shortly, stuffing my hands into my overall pockets. Good guess, Cassie .

“And you are?” she asked, turning her full attention to Rhodes, eyes gleaming like he was some kind of dessert.

“Rhodes Dunn,” he said with a polite wave. First and last name? Really? I fought the urge to roll my eyes. But, then again, when I’d put my last name in his phone, he had something to say.

Theo 1, Cassie 0.

“Let’s get started,” I interjected, ushering us toward the building before Cassie could keep ogling Rhodes.

The first apartment was a one-bedroom, and calling it small was generous. There wasn’t even space for a crib in the living room. The outside was dismal—dead bushes, scattered trash, and a broken fence. The inside wasn’t much better: an open floor plan with a kitchen overlooking the living room, one bathroom with a stand-up shower, and beige walls reminiscent of a Wendy’s Frosty.

“This unit has one bathroom and a stand-up shower only. The beauty of this is the exposed brick wall.” Cassie walked to the wall in question and slapped it like a used car salesman. A brick wall was the least of my concerns.

I glanced around for signs of in-unit laundry. No luck.

“Um, is there a washer and dryer?” I asked hesitantly.

Cassie shook her head. “But there’s a brand-new laundromat just down the road! Top-of-the-line machines. If I had to use it, I wouldn’t even mind!”

Right.

I needed in-house washing for all the clothes I would have to wash between spit-up and other fluids.

“Before you decide,” Cassie added quickly, “there’s an amazing walk-in closet! It’s big enough for both of your clothes and the baby’s things.”

Both of our clothes?

Cassie’s eyes ping-ponged between Rhodes and me, likely piecing together a scenario.

“You two are together, right?” she asked, gesturing vaguely to my bump.

Our simultaneous responses tangled into a jumbled mess.

“Oh, yes!” I blurted.

“No,” Rhodes said at the same time, his tone firm.

The air between us grew heavy as we exchanged a quick glance. What had possessed me to say yes? Was it to make myself seem more stable to Cassie—or to stop her from making eyes at Rhodes? Either way, it was a mistake.

Rhodes, to his credit, recovered quickly. “Sorry,” he said smoothly, clearing his throat. “Yes, we’re together. I didn’t hear the question.” Without missing a beat, he reached for my hand, lacing his fingers through mine like it was the most natural thing in the world.

The warmth of his touch sent a jolt through me, and my hand instinctively settled into his. It felt easy. Right. Like our hands were puzzle pieces meant to fit together. He gave a small, reassuring squeeze.

“You two are adorable together!” Cassie gushed.

I didn’t want to let go. For a moment, the act felt real—too real.

“I’m sorry, Cassie,” I said, forcing my focus back to the task at hand. “This place won’t work. I really need in-unit laundry and a bathtub.”

Cassie nodded, her bright demeanor unshaken, and pulled an iPad from her messenger bag. “Give me one second!” she said, tapping away on the screen with her long, manicured nails.

As the silence stretched, I became hyper-aware of Rhodes’s hand in mine. I couldn’t bring myself to pull away, even though this was just for show. On the outside, I played it cool, however, inside, I was buzzing with nervous energy.

“I found one!” Cassie announced, breaking the tension. “It’s on the other side of town, but I think it will be perfect!”

Perfect? I wasn’t so sure about her definition, but at this point, what did I have to lose?

We left the apartment and agreed to follow Cassie. I watched her stroll down the street and climb into a brand-new BMW, sleek and spotless. My chest tightened. She probably thought I was pathetic—a mom struggling to afford rent for even a half-decent place, dressed in donated clothes, and certainly not driving a luxury car.

Rhodes cleared his throat, standing with the passenger door open, waiting. I shook my head to snap myself out of my thoughts as he helped me climb in.

The drive was silent, not in a comfortable way. I had too much on my mind to make small talk. I couldn’t bring myself to bring up what had happened earlier—us holding hands, me saying we were together. Just the potential of Rhodes questioning why I said yes made my stomach churn. My composure was already hanging by a thread.

What were we even doing? Spending time together was easy, sure, but there were no labels, and maybe that’s why it worked.

By the time I stopped spiraling, we were pulling up to the second apartment.

This one looked promising. The bushes were alive, the area seemed well-kept, and there weren’t too many steps. It felt like a good omen however small.

As Cassie unlocked the door, Rhodes placed his hand on the small of my back, urging me forward. The warmth of his touch steadied me as we followed her inside.

When the door swung open, I froze in awe. This place was everything I’d been searching for. The open floor plan was clean and modern, and it didn’t feel cramped. Everything looked brand new.

A breakfast bar separated the kitchen from the living room, and large windows overlooked a well-kept parking lot. I wandered further in, taking in every detail. Rhodes trailed close behind as I stepped into the first bedroom. It had its own full bathroom attached, complete with a tub and a massive walk-in closet.

I spun around to face Rhodes, unable to stop the grin spreading across my face. He was smiling, too.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“It’s perfect,” I whispered, excitement bubbling under my breath as I tried not to let Cassie overhear.

I could already picture how I’d set it up—my bed in the corner, my baby girl’s bassinet nearby. The second bedroom could be her nursery when she was old enough. This place wasn’t just an apartment; it was a potential home, a space where we could start our lives.

Instinctively, my hand drifted to my bump. The realization hit me hard, bringing tears to my eyes. When I glanced up, I caught Rhodes staring at my belly, his expression softer than I’d ever seen. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he stepped toward me. For a second, it felt like the rest of the world disappeared.

Then Cassie’s voice cut through.

“So, this apartment is a little out of your budget.”

Her words hit like a slap. My bubble popped so violently it almost left me dizzy.

Rhodes’s smile vanished as fast as mine. He turned to face Cassie, voice tight. “How much?”

She hesitated, her eyes darting to her iPad. “A little less than double. But I had to show it to you!”

My temper flared instantly. “Why?” I snapped, stepping forward. “So I could get my hopes up just to have them crushed? To feel like life was finally about to begin, only to have it yanked out from under me?”

I was on a rampage now, anger burning away any restraint. “You knew my budget before we started! How dare you bring me here knowing damn well I couldn’t afford it.”

Silence filled the space at my outburst.

Cassie shrank back as I stormed out the door. Before descending the steps, I spun around for one last jab. “Oh, and by the way? Your pantsuit is dumb, and your car is ugly.”

The tantrum was cathartic, but the fallout hit me like a freight train. When I got to the sidewalk. I yanked on the handle of Rhodes’s truck, only to find it locked. Of course, he’d locked it. The man was too rational for his own good.

Sniffling, I slumped against the tailgate, resting my head on the cool metal. Two apartments, and neither worked when the options were already limited. I was running out of time with just fourteen weeks left, and I still didn’t have a place to bring my baby home to.

I took a deep breath and finally looked up to see him . His warm, reassuring smile made my chest tighten. Rhodes sat down on the bumper and shifted closer until our shoulders touched, a quiet but steady presence. Letting my head rest against his bicep, I felt a flicker of calm seep in, like I could finally start piecing myself back together.

“I know,” I sighed in defeat. “I was really mean, wasn’t I?”

“You should’ve seen Cassie’s face when you insulted her car and pantsuit. Ruthless. But also kind of hilarious.”

Despite myself, I laughed. Rhodes had this way of knowing when to lighten the mood. His hand found its way to my thigh, grounding me the same way it had that day at The Tequila Cowboy.

Rhodes made me feel safe, like my emotions, messy and raw, weren’t too much for him. Like I could lay them bare without fear of judgment. It was a glimpse of the version of myself I could be if I didn’t feel so heavy.

“I’m such an asshole,” I mumbled.

“You’re not an asshole,” Rhodes said firmly. “But maybe send Cassie an apology card. And a candle. After we get food.”

The corner of my mouth twitched. He wasn’t wrong. However, at that moment, food and bed sounded like the only cure. Rhodes just knew what I needed, and I wasn’t sure if that comforted me or scared me.