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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

NO ONE COMPARES

ELLE

Now

“Because I’ve been living with how I feel about you since the night we met.”

I’ve thought about Rhodes saying this nonstop. Throughout practices. Throughout the charity events all weekend. While I watch the recording of the Mustangs’ game in Indianapolis on Sunday in the comfort of my bed and rewind every time there’s a close-up of Rhodes.

The way his eyes heated as he said it, the way his eyes roamed over me before he left—all of it has been excellent inspiration for writing. Lisa has worked us so hard this week at practice and I’m dragging by the time I get home, but when I open my laptop, the words pour out of me. I’ve sent a few chapters to my agent Rosie and she said, “I wish you would quit everything else you’re doing and finish this book!”

I know I can’t do that, not without everyone in my life wondering how in the world I’m surviving financially…unless I did move in with Rhodes.

I feel guilty even contemplating it.

Hiding my identity while I’m living under Rhodes’ roof and using him for inspiration for every book boyfriend I write?

My parents are right—I have slipped down that slippery slope.

But the more I think about it, the more it feels right. I don’t want to quit cheering, I love it too much. The season is almost over, but if I’m lucky enough to get in next season, I have to do it. The thought of seeing Rhodes and Levi at home while I’m keeping my distance in public the rest of the time…it feels like the only way I can survive another year of this.

My phone buzzes and it’s Calista in the group thread.

Calista

Hey! I’m just reminding you that this Thursday night is Shop by Candlelight on Jupiter Lane and I’ll be having some worthy treats and drinks at Twinkle Tales! Like don’t even bother eating dinner, just come eat with me if you want.

I’d almost forgotten that I’d agreed to stop by Twinkle Tales later this week with Sadie and Tru. We might hit a few other shops too, but if it goes the way it has the past few years, I’ve mostly hung out at Twinkle Tales.

The team is away again for this Sunday’s game, and I only have one Mustangs event scheduled on Friday night in Denver. When the team is away, the cheerleaders’ schedule is packed with events. Sometimes it’s just one or two of us going to a store opening or a luncheon, and other times it’s a charity performance or a fundraiser. This weekend, we’re all required to be at the Winter Ball.

I’ll be there!

Sadie

I can’t wait. Hey—do we know when Zoey Archer is putting out her next book? I’m having major book withdrawal.

Calista

Not until March. But guess what, you guys? I’ve emailed her! I found an email through her newsletter and I’ve invited her to the shop. It’s a long shot and I probably should’ve gone through her PR team, but I thought, what the hell, I’ll try it!

My heart starts pounding. I open my email from my phone and scroll through the zillion emails. When I finally find it and read her sweet note, I blink back tears.

Dear Ms. Archer,

I hope it’s okay that I’m emailing. I don’t fangirl very often, but I’m such a huge fan of It Was Always You. I own a bookstore in this really charming little town in Colorado, Silver Hills, and I tell everyone who comes through the door about your book. It’s such a beautiful story of friendship and perseverance and love. I laughed and cried reading about Ryder and Eliza’s ups and downs as they found their way to each other. The way they pined for one another just gave me all the feels, and when they finally surrendered to their love and put down every wall between them, knowing their love would survive taking it to that next level, it was EPIC.

I’ve scoured the internet for any news about your signings and haven’t found anything. I hope you’ll consider coming to Silver Hills. Our town is small, but the love growing for you here every single day is huge. We’re not far from Denver or Boulder and people come from all over to our Pixie Pop-Up Market (see link). If we coordinated your visit during one of those weekends, the books would fly off the shelves. Please think about it!

Sincerely,

Calista Hart

There’s no way I can do it, but this makes me wish so bad that I could. Another wave of guilt washes over me. I mark it as unread so I can go back and respond later.

Tru

I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to a night out. My students this year are so much rowdier than last year’s! Warning, Henley will probably be with me since he doesn’t have a game that night.

Sadie

Weston’s already asked when the Twinkle Tales party is. Caleb loved your storytime last year.

Calista

The more, the merrier!

I look at the time and try to calculate where Rhodes would be by now. I doubt he’s on the plane yet. I haven’t seen him since the other night, but he’s texted every day. Not to tell me I’m beautiful again, but…definitely a little…I don’t know…sweeter. The last one was right before the game.

Rhodes

I don’t like away games anymore because you’re not here.

I snuggle under the covers and text him back.

You guys are BACK! That was such a good game tonight.

Rhodes

It felt good. I’m tired though. We had to work for it.

You worked that tight end off.

Rhodes

I see what you did there.

You like that?

Rhodes

I like everything about you, Elle.

Gah. See what I mean? He’s always been so sweet to me, but I don’t know. This just feels…a little more.

You’re pretty okay too.

Rhodes

Mm-hmm. Remember when you wrote that short story in your creative writing class senior year and it was published in the school paper?

You’ll never let me forget.

Rhodes

It was an excellent story about a brilliant guy who never gave up.

Hmm. Did I use the word brilliant? I don’t think so.

Rhodes

I’ll check when I get home because I’m almost positive the story said he was brilliant and super sexy.

I snort.

I know I didn’t say he was super sexy. And what do you mean you’ll check it—you still have the story?

Rhodes

Hell yeah! It’s in a special box I keep with everything you ever wrote. I miss reading your stories. Do you ever miss writing?

I swallow hard, fingers pausing over the keyboard. It’s been painfully difficult not sharing everything that’s happened with my book with him. He would be so, so proud.

I still write sometimes.

It feels good to say even this much of the truth.

Rhodes

Really? That makes me happy, Elle. You never talk about it anymore. I thought you’d given it up. You’ve always had such a way with words.

Thank you. You always made me feel like my writing was important.

Rhodes

It was. It is. You are.

My eyes fill with tears and drip down my cheeks. How did I get so lucky to have him in my life all these years?

No one compares to him.