Chapter 42
Sage
Sundays meant we were expected at Maggie’s for dinner.
For the last few weeks, that included the new people we had brought into the group.
Rhodes, Ellis, and Opal had joined us for meals, and it had only made everything livelier.
Ellis had been grumpy the first time because Phiny had outright rejected the poor guy, but he bounced back and chose to take it in stride.
First, though, I needed to check in on my shop. I trusted Cedric, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to stop in, especially when I was in town anyway.
“Babe, you really need to trust,” Cedric dragged out the word as he fluttered his eyelashes at me for a second, then turned his attention back to the piece he was arranging. “You don’t have to come in every single day. I’ve got this.”
“Of course you do. It’s just habit at this point.” Giving Cedric a quick kiss on the cheek, I ignored his eyeroll and let Ellis follow me outside into the April sunshine.
“Maggie wants us to pick up some extra honey at the market.” I was already looking down at my phone and shooting off texts to make sure that there weren’t any other requests.
The hangover from last night's tequila shots at the Public House lingered as a dull throb, but the girls' night had been worth it.
Hattie's baby news, all the sisterly chaos, and the thought that maybe Chloe was starting to branch out a little had recharged me.
Rhodes and I were in a good place now, and our routine felt solid.
I wish I had figured out who had been sending the bouquets, but the more time that passed, the less I worried about it.
Rhodes and East were finally finishing Opal’s play structure this morning, and I was heading back to help right after.
I’d insisted on staying at my place last night because my plants needed their own little pep talks and company, but I already missed them.
Nobody could tell me there wasn’t a difference.
I’d had a little journaling to do, too, even though Ellis had been camping in the living room.
He trailed just off to the side of me, his hulking presence a silent shadow in jeans and a black tee that did nothing to hide his scars or the way he scanned every passerby like a potential threat. "Market's just up ahead," he grunted, eyes flicking to the quiet street.
I’d wondered whether to suggest to Rhodes that Ellis didn’t need to follow me everywhere, but I didn’t mind it and actually felt safer.
The one time I brought it up, Rhodes shut it down immediately, so I stopped mentioning it.
If Rhodes wanted one of his guys hanging out, I wasn’t going to complain.
Parrish had already returned to Seattle, and Ryatt had a mission or something, so he’d left this morning.
The market was lively for a Sunday, with stalls overflowing with local produce and handmade goods. I was browsing a stall with some herbs, inhaling the sharp scent of rosemary, when a voice cut through the chatter like a too-sweet perfume.
"What a coincidence. Sage, right?" a saccharine voice called from behind me.
I turned, and there was Rhodes' ex, "bumping" into me with all the subtlety of a scripted rom-com villain. She stood too close, her designer bag slung over one shoulder, blonde hair perfectly coiffed, and a smile that didn't reach her calculating eyes. Catherine Collins was exactly what someone envisioned when they thought of a late-thirties bimbo with too much time on her hands. She’d over-tanned and over-Botoxed. Her skin stretched too tight over her face, which was too bad because if she’d only stop to enjoy life a little, maybe she’d be a little more attractive.
Instead, she gave off super-villain vibes rather than soccer mom.
If anything, she looked a little strung out.
The meeting was not an accident. Ellis stiffened next to me, and while he was close by, he stayed silent. We’d talked extensively over the last month about how I wanted him to intervene with people. If I looked at him, I would bet a hundred bucks that his trademark glacial stare was pinned on her.
Handing my wicker market basket to Ellis, I turned and looked her up and down.
I cringed a little at my wardrobe, but in my defense, I was dressed for fairy houses and assembling a playhouse.
Catherine was dressed in what looked like something from a magazine spread—a breezy skirt and an off-shoulder blouse that only seemed to accentuate how thin she was.
Me? Well, somewhat grubby cut-offs and a T-shirt that was a size too big and faded from an elementary school fundraiser for the Wildcats.
“Catherine, right?” No way was I letting her rattle me. “Small town. What brings you here?"
She laughed, a tinkling sound that grated on my nerves, as she adjusted her bag as if we were old friends chatting.
"Just picking up a few things. You know, for old times' sake.
Rhodes always loved my homemade lasagna—secret family recipe.
We had so many cozy nights with that. He couldn't get enough. "
That was funny. I doubted the woman could cook, but Rhodes had already told me what their nights had been like, and cozy meals weren’t part of it. Not to mention, I knew he wasn’t eating lasagna with her. Keeping my expression neutral, I shrugged. “Enjoy the market.”
“Men like Rhodes... they always circle back to what they know.” Her eyes narrowed, and her smile sharpened. “You think you won, but you didn’t. We have a daughter together. History you can't erase."
Jealousy flared hot in my chest, but I reminded myself that it was true. “You’re right. You do have history you can never erase. I respect that.” Ellis shifted subtly closer. "If you're here to stir things up, save it. I don’t care about you.”
Catherine's facade cracked for a split second, her lips pursing in faux concern. "I'm just warning you. Trying to help you out.”
"I know what I need to know. He’s loyal and protective. Whatever games you're playing, they won't work. Enjoy your shopping."
She huffed, tossing her hair, but the defeat in her eyes was clear as she turned on her heel and sauntered off, disappearing into the crowd. My hands shook slightly as I paid for the herbs I had been looking for, but outwardly? Calm as a cucumber.
Ellis fell into step beside me as we headed back to the truck, murmuring, "Handled like a boss. Rhodes'll want to know about her showing up here.”
I nodded, pulling out my phone to text him a quick heads-up. Catherine's hints had stirred the jealousy pot a little if I were honest with myself, but they hadn't boiled over. If anything, they reminded me why Rhodes had cut her out—and why I trusted him.