Page 6 of Everything About You

I always sort of wondered if celebrities look as good in real life. There can’t be any way there is just this class of humans

who are somehow gifted with having perfect skin and hair and smiles and posture and style. Right?

But in real life, Rhodes looks better than any photos I’ve ever seen of him. His rosy cheeks and sapphire eyes—a handsome

portrait, painted with only the best colors and the finest strokes.

This Rhodes seems different from the one I’ve expected, really.

“For what it’s worth, Armoury isn’t exactly my thing,” he says, waving it off. “I support them, of course, and I’ll certainly

give a Circus fan a fair amount of well-deserved shit, but I don’t care nearly as much as my brother or dad.”

Different from what I expected indeed.

“So, is that what it was, then?” He hums. “You don’t like me because your brother goes for Clyde Circus?”

I shake my head. “I don’t not like you .”

“But you don’t like me.”

“You’d think it’s the first time this has happened to you.”

The corner of his mouth lifts again. “You really are interesting.”

We work through the clothes, only running into a couple of smudged barcodes or missing pieces that we are, thankfully, able

to locate in other drawers or hanging on other racks. I’m not sure who’s been managing the closet until now, but it’s almost

meticulously organized. I imagine sometimes it’s easy to, especially in a rush, place a dress on the wrong rack or a pair

of shoes in the wrong bag, but it seems like the PR team at Maison Dauphine is as scrupulous as Yvette has indicated.

I catch myself admiring Rhodes several times, which is incredibly irritating. He is endlessly charming and he’s open enough

that he’s easy to talk to. Anyone else would think they’d hit the jackpot—he’s not only ridiculously handsome, but he’s also

funny and has great banter. It’s just like having the perfect volley partner in tennis.

Once we’re wrapping up, he places his iPad on his desk and stretches his arms over his head. The flash of his stomach causes

a lump to form in my throat and I quickly look away.

“I’m—um. I’m only missing one belt,” I say. I look around the closet. “I’ve looked everywhere.”

Rhodes walks over to me. “What does the belt look like?”

“It’s a little black one with the gold monogram. And there are pearls on the clasp.”

Rhodes snaps his fingers together. “Ah, no, it’s not missing. Looks fifty-seven and twenty-eight both share the same belt.

So it’s accounted for.”

I stare at him. I am disproportionately impressed that he remembered this. I’m also fighting a feeling I know all too well—competition.

How did he figure that out before me? How did I not put two and two together? It’s so simple, and this is only day one.

“You already remember the look numbers?”

Rhodes nods. “I guess so. I sort of picked them up as we went.”

Here I was being a total idiot, caught up in Rhodes’s eyes and smile and effortless wit, while he was retaining details that

are going to be valuable to our apprenticeship.

Remember, Milo? Guys like Rhodes. They’re always charming. Always handsome, and just sweet enough to confuse you in the beginning.

I’m going to have to be better about resisting that charm if I’m going to stay on top of my game. I have to do my best work

this summer.

“Anyway, that means we’re done, then.” He takes my iPad and locks it. Smiling down at me. “We make a pretty good team.”

He’s less than a foot away from me, and as he adjusts to hold the iPad behind his back with both hands, I can practically

feel the space between our bodies warming up.

“Crushed it, I’d say.” He smiles, eyes still locked on mine.

And then his gaze lowers to my mouth, his own cherry-red lips turned up ever so slightly.

I’ve become good at reading people. Opponents, mostly, but I know what it’s like when a guy wants to kiss me. I’ve noticed

the way even eye contact becomes tonal. Noticed the subtle ways people inch closer.

This can’t be that, though. Right?

We just met. And it’s Rhodes Hamilton.

Surely he’s not about to kiss me, even if he’s unashamedly staring at my mouth. Even if, when he makes eye contact again, he licks his lips and takes a sharp breath.

My own breathing halts.

“Look, Milo...” Rhodes’s voice is a bit lower now. A bit gruffer. “To tell you the truth, I might have been trying to butter

you up just a bit earlier.”

“What?”

“Only a little,” he offers. “I’d like to try and get on your good side, I think.”

I swallow. “Why do you want to get on my good side?”

With a quiet, breathy laugh: “Well, you seem... cool. I guess.”

“I seem cool ?” I furrow my brow.

Another laugh. “You’re funny. You’re obviously driven and seem clever. Plus, you’ve got this whole loyalty thing—like you

going to bat for your brother when you don’t even like footie. And if you really want me to say it, you’re fit. I don’t know,

it’s just—I think it could be fun to go for dinner after this. Or something casual, if that’s more your thing. In case you’re

worried you might get sick of me rather quickly and not want to be sat at a dinner table for the entire duration of a—”

I cackle—he can’t be serious.

Except he tilts his head. He is serious.

He looks at me like a wounded puppy. “Silly of me, apparently.”

“Sorry, I’m just trying to get this right. Were you just asking me out?”

“I think I was attempting to. And failing.”

“We’re coworkers.”

He looks at me expectantly, like he’s waiting for me to offer up another, more useful point.

“We should keep this professional.”

Rhodes chews on his lip. “Right.”

“Don’t give me sad puppy eyes.” I furrow my brow. “You’re Rhodes Hamilton.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I exhale. “You know what it means. I am sure you will have no trouble throwing a stone and finding someone else who is driven

and fit in Paris.”

“Maybe not. So, there’s no part of you that would want to go to dinner?”

Guys like Rhodes... Guys like Rhodes...

“No. I know how this whole thing goes.”

“Oh, do you?”

With a quick nod, I glance away. “Let me guess? You’re interested, but you just want something casual? And you’re mostly interested

in something fun and carefree for the summer?”

“Who said—”

“Casual may work for guys like you, but in my experience, I don’t love it. And it doesn’t end well, and we can’t afford something

like that, because we need to focus on Maison Dauphine.”

“For guys like me—” He sighs and opens his mouth to say more before closing it again. Then, after a beat: “Right, I see. All

right, then, Milo. Okay. Loud and clear. I’m sorry if I made things weird at all. Hopefully we can just pretend this never

happened. And let’s agree to stay a good team. Yeah?”

“It’s fine. And yes, of course. We’ll be a good team.”

He sighs. “Okay, good. I just know how these things can get. I think you and I will do well together, so I don’t want the

competition to change things.”

I’m almost distracted by the absurdity of him asking me out. Almost. “Competition? I mean, Rhodes. We don’t have to compete.”

“For the job?” he asks.

And now it’s like time has stopped.

When I don’t say anything, Rhodes takes a step back, cocking his head. “You didn’t know?”

“I’m confused. What do you mean the job?”

“They’re only going to give one of us a job at the end of all this,” Rhodes says.

“What? That makes no sense. Why would they only give one of us a job? We’re both apprentices. And the whole point of the apprenticeship

is that there’s a job at the end of this.”

Rhodes shrugs. “I don’t know all the details, but I guess HR only approved one role. It’s a bit experimental, isn’t it?” He

frowns. “Shit. I thought you knew.”

“No, I thought...” I exhale. “So, we’re competing.”

“Yeah, that’s why only one of us gets to work the resort show. Since by then they’ll have a good idea—”

“Only one of us is working the show?” I balk.

With a heavy sigh, Rhodes grabs the back of his neck. “But we’re starting to get on, you and me. I don’t want this to change

anything.”

Of course he doesn’t. Everyone absolutely adores him here. Yvette seems to know him personally. Haydée loves that he can speak

French. He’s already memorizing the looks. He’s ahead of me in every way, and it seems he doesn’t even need to try.

Now it’s my turn to take a step back.

“Milo?”

“I just can’t believe this,” I say.

I don’t stand a chance against you.

If there’s one thing I have learned in tennis, though, it’s that showing weakness is not an option. You’ve always got to be

on your game.

And then there’s this terrible sinking feeling as I replay the flirting and cute smiles.

I bet that was all on purpose. He was already playing the game.

I was right about him, even if I didn’t know exactly how.

“I don’t want the competition aspect to change anything,” Rhodes repeats. “That’s all I was trying to say.”

I frown. The competition aspect. As if there’s really anything else now. “But this changes everything.”

“It doesn’t have to,” he offers.

“Have you ever competed for something?” I laugh. “I don’t know if this nice act is some kind of tactic—”

“A tactic?” Rhodes scoffs. “Nice act?”

“Look, I don’t intend to lose, Rhodes.”

“Well, neither do I, but—”

I hold up my hands. “Then there’s our answer.”

“I assure you, I can separate friendship from the competition.”

“Maybe you can, but I can’t. I don’t have a backup plan. I’m four thousand miles from home and I’m here to get a job with

Maison Dauphine at the end of my apprenticeship.”

“That’s it, then? We’re competitors, and nothing else?”

Those pleading cerulean eyes are so tempting. It’s almost illogically devastating to turn them down—after all, they’re brand-new

to me and shouldn’t have such a profound effect.

Which is exactly what he wants.

“That’s all we can be, Rhodes.”

Clothes Minded: Rhodes Hamilton Takes on Maison Dauphine Paris

Bienvenue à Paris, monsieur! Rhodes Hamilton, nineteen, is following in his mother’s footsteps as he begins a summer-long apprenticeship with international

fashion house Maison Dauphine. Former supermodel Rosie Hamilton has had a long-standing affiliation with the designer, so

it comes as no surprise that one of her sons should venture into the fashion industry.

This news is not without controversy, however, as Rhodes’s father, Armoury United legend Liam Hamilton, also has a relationship

with a French fashion house. Rhodes is said to have “changed his mind” about a brand partnership with Louis Vuitton. Some

outlets have called this “disrespectful,” and many on social media have shared thoughts, such as a Tweet claiming, “Rhodes

clings to his mummy’s legacy since he can’t follow in his dad’s footsteps.”

Many in the fashion industry are watching closely to see if Rhodes has what it takes. An anonymous staff member at an Italian

fashion house expressed the buzz around their office as employees placed bets on the numerous outcomes.

“There’s a very good chance he somehow makes it work, but there’s a better chance... well...”

The apprenticeship was originally announced as a scouting opportunity for young, fresh talent, open internationally; a submission from a Florida student caught the eye of the house.

Another anonymous insider at a casting agency questions if the apprenticeship—and specifically Rhodes’s somewhat controversial

appointment—is part of the fashion house’s attempts to distract from the recent criticisms surrounding gatekeeping practices

in the luxury world and Maison Dauphine’s role as a central player.

No stranger to controversy, Rhodes has become a paparazzi favorite as he’s frequented clubs and high-profile parties with

countless different girls. Following the divisive ending of his relationship with former Love on a Boat contestant Imogen Evans last year, some have labeled him a “selfish cad.” Friends of Hamilton have defended his right to

“be young and have fun.”

Rhodes’s twin brother, Ollie, will soon be making his debut for Armoury United and has received acclaim and enthusiasm from

fans around the world.

We’re eagerly watching to see whether Rhodes joins his brother as a prodigal titan in his own regard or if he opts for a French

exit.

Deuce Bags

Chip: Did you see this?!

Miguel: a florida student

Isaac: Milo with the Florida Man vibes in Paris

Me: The vibes are definitely not Florida Man

Chip: I can’t believe they didn’t include your name

Isaac: Pretty fucked up

Isaac: Citrus Harbor Boys Tennis Legend, Milo Hawthorne

Me: It’s not a big deal

Me: That piece is about him, not me

Miguel: overall pretty sick you’re working with Rhodes Hamilton tho

Isaac: I might get Ollie for my PL Fantasy

Isaac: Maybe you’ll get some insider knowledge

Chip: Which he wouldn’t be able to share with you

Chip: Legally

Isaac: Right, legally

Miguel: we missed you at McGuire’s tonight, Milo

Isaac: We really did, they had a pop culture category for trivia

Isaac: You would have killed it

Me: Damn, so you guys didn’t win a month of milkshakes?

Miguel: sadly not

Isaac: I gotta run but keep killing it, Milo

Chip: Yeah, Milo, make it so they can’t possibly leave out your name next time