Page 5

CHAPTER FOUR

COLLEGE LIFE

ELLE

Then

“Go, go, L-E-T-S-G-O!” I did a high kick and tried not to think too much about my parents being out in the crowd, watching me cheer.

I wasn’t proud of it, but in high school, I let my parents think I was working for the school newspaper instead of being on the cheer team and taking all the dance classes at the rec center for free. The truth came out when they saw my yearbook senior year, and they were still not over it.

They weren’t happy about me doing it in college either, but I hoped they’d let it go. I was far from home and our time together was limited, so I didn’t want to spend it arguing with them.

After our win, I ran off of the field and showered quickly. It had been a good game, so I hoped my dad had been a little distracted by that. I didn’t have much hope that my mom hadn’t been watching my every move.

“Don’t you have something a little more…fun to wear than that, Elle?” Delaney eyed my long, baggy flannel dress. “If I didn’t see you in your cheer outfit all the time, I’d never know the body you have underneath.”

“I’d prefer not to show that side of me all the time,” I told her.

She snorted. “Little Miss Innocent only brings it out on the field,” she sang.

I rolled my eyes but laughed. I wasn’t as innocent as she thought I was, but I wasn’t going to bother correcting that. She lifted her eyebrows and looked me over, her nose crinkling slightly. Geez. I knew I needed to update my wardrobe, but I couldn’t afford to yet. Even with a good scholarship, it was still pricy to be there. I’d chosen to go to Stanford instead of taking the full ride at Denver U, so my parents were only willing to pay for the remainder of my tuition. I had to pay for everything else on my own.

Worth it.

But not something my fashion-forward roommate could relate to, I didn’t think. She only slept in Eberjey pajamas…which was fine by me. If I could afford Eberjey pajamas, maybe I’d splurge on them too because they looked cute and su per soft. But that was unlikely for me, and either way, I didn’t want to ever be the kind of person who cared so much about the labels I did or didn’t wear.

“My parents are here, and they’re already not happy about me being on the team,” I said. “I’m going out to eat with them and…maybe meeting Rhodes’ mom too.”

I grabbed my jean jacket and put it on over my dress.

She tilted her head and nodded. “That’s a little better,” she said. “But no. Here—borrow something of mine. You can’t meet your boyfriend’s fashion icon mom wearing that!”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I repeated for the jillionth time.

Ever since Rhodes and I had met at the party, we’d been mostly inseparable…at least when I wasn’t hanging out with girls from the team and he wasn’t playing or surrounded by girls who couldn’t get enough of him. He wanted to hang out even more, and so did I, but it scared me because I didn’t want to get too attached to Rhodes Archer.

“Aw, you think I don’t see how the two of you look at each other. That’s so cute,” Delaney teased.

Delaney was a combination of sarcasm and sweetness, and I loved her. I’d been so excited to come to school, ready to spread my wings and be free for a while, but I thought I’d miss having the peace and quiet of having a bedroom to myself. Living with Delaney had been so fun though. Never a dull moment.

“We look at each other like two friends who love hanging out together and don’t want the societal constructs of having to be romantic just because we’re close to get in the way and destroy us.” I glanced in the mirror one more time and paused when I caught Delaney staring at me. “What? ”

“I don’t know what that nonsense was you just spouted, but call it whatever you want,” Delaney said, waving me off. “You like each other.”

“Yes, we like each other!” I agreed. “Platonically.”

“I think it’s great that you’re calling it that…but I don’t know how you do it. He is the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.”

He was. I’d give her that. Rhodes Archer just got better every time I looked at him.

All the more reason for me to keep things in the friend zone.

Tristan Johnson had taught me the hard way not to trust the pitter-pattering of my heart. I’d thought he was the guy for me since he came into our youth group that first time three years ago. He claimed we were meant to be, and I believed him. So much so that he managed to take my virginity while I had a pretty purity ring on my finger. I hadn’t fully agreed with my parents’ beliefs about purity culture, which entailed strict rules on dating and dress and abstinence not only from sex but kissing and any other things you might want to fill in the blank with…but I also hadn’t expected to cave so easily with Tristan.

Turned out that hormones and excessive words of love had been hard for me to resist.

But lesson learned.

Tristan had gone through multiple purity rings in the youth group by the time I left for school, and I had a less-than-healthy view of guys and dating and sex.

I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

When I finally reached my parents in the courtyard outside my building, their relief was evident. My mom visibly relaxed as she looked over my outfit.

“Thank God you're out of that ridiculous costume,” she said.

“Good to see you too, Mom,” I said, laughing as I hugged her.

She groaned. “I’m happy to see you, but you know I don't approve of you displaying your body like that for the whole world to see.”

“I know, but it's so fun to be on the team. And it's not like I dress that way all the time, right?” I hugged my dad and his expression made me tense.

“I don't know what possessed you to do this, but I guess you're going through your wild phase, right? It had to happen sometime?” He frowned and patted my shoulders when we pulled apart. “I guess it’s been going on longer than we knew, right?”

“If cheerleading for my school team is a wild phase, then I guess I’m in the thick of it,” I said, lifting my shoulders.

I hated any kind of tension with my parents, but I didn't know what else to do. It wasn’t like I could hide this from them. I hid plenty of things when I lived at home—how far things got with Tristan being a huge one, all while being thoroughly covered in public, I might add. I thought college could be a time when I didn't have to hide things anymore, but the way they were acting made me wish I had kept the fact that I was a cheerleader to myself.

I heard my name being called and turned to see Rhodes walking toward me with the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I recognized his mom, Amara, from commercials and magazine covers, but seeing her in person was even more incredible. She was staggeringly beautiful. Her skin was a deeper brown than Rhodes’, and her full, shoulder-length corkscrew curls were magnificent. Her cream cashmere sweater with matching pants were elegant and understated, yet on her, it looked like a Vogue photo spread.

Rhodes walked up to us and grinned, hugging me quickly before acknowledging my parents. Every time he hugged me or even brushed his finger against mine, I reminded myself of our pact…because touching Rhodes affected me way too much.

I could feel my parents practically holding their breath as they watched the whole interaction.

“I’m Rhodes Archer,” he said, holding his hand out to my dad and then my mom. “I've been really excited for all of us to meet.” He sounded more energetic than his typical laidback tone, and I wondered briefly if he was nervous.

His mom held out her hand to me and smiled. “I’m Amara, Rhodes’ mother, and Elle, you are as beautiful as he described you. It's wonderful to meet you.” Her South African accent sounded like music, and the things she was saying!—I couldn’t believe she was so nice.

“Oh my goodness. I can't believe I'm meeting you. You're even more gorgeous than I imagined,” I gushed.

She thanked me quietly and introduced herself to my parents, who thankfully, were back to being their charismatic, friendly selves. Once the introductions were made, there was an awkward lull.

“We talked about going out to eat. Does that still work for everyone?” I asked.

I was completely thrown when my dad said, “Unfortunately, we have to get to the airport.”

“What? You can’t hang out for a while?”

“Our flight is leaving earlier than I thought,” he said. “Next time we'll stay longer. We just wanted to be here for family weekend and get the hugs we've been missing so much.”

“You're really leaving right now?” I said, still shocked.

“You know I have to be back tonight to be ready for church in the morning,” he said. “I hope you’ll be attending your new church tomorrow too?”

“I’m still looking for a place,” I told him.

It was true. I knew my parents wouldn’t rest until I found a church, but I had yet to find one where I felt comfortable.

“You’ll find the right one. Take care of yourself, okay? Stay out of trouble.” He held my arms and looked at me firmly.

I nodded. “I will. You know me.”

Everyone laughed and said their goodbyes. We watched as they walked away.

“That's too bad,” Rhodes’ mom said. “But we still get to keep you, right?” She looped her arm through mine.

“Yes, please…if you don't mind me tagging along.”

“We’re happy to see our boy, but we really came to see you,” she said.

My eyes widened. So this is where Rhodes got his charm , I thought.

She leaned in and whispered, “We have a little surprise…if we can keep it under wraps. Rhodes’ dad really wants to meet you too. Shall we head to the restaurant? He’s waiting there.”

“Oh my God,” I whispered. “I’m meeting Troy Archer tonight too?”

She laughed. “Yes, and he’s going to love you,” she said.

Rhodes flanked her on the other side, and the next thing I knew, we were climbing into an Escalade and driving to a fancy seafood restaurant in San Francisco. As we walked inside, Rhodes leaned down and whispered in my ear, “You sure you’re okay? You’re not as chatty as usual.”

“Freaking out a little bit over meeting your parents.” I leaned back and made a face. “Pretty sure you didn’t know this, but…they’re famous,” I whispered.

He chuckled that low, gruff chuckle that always hit me in the stomach and then worked its magic throughout my body like a chakra overload.

“I had a pretty good idea,” he said. “But they’re easy to be around, you’ll see.”

“Sorry my parents couldn’t hang out. I had no idea they weren’t staying tonight.”

“You think they were okay with me?”

The tone of his voice stopped me and I turned to face him. “What do you mean?”

“Not sure they approved of us…being friends.”

“I think their weirdness came from seeing me in so little clothing earlier, but…I’m sorry if they acted anything other than wonderful to you.” I frowned. “Were they rude? I was so enthralled by your mom, I didn’t really hear what was being said.”

He laughed. “They were fine. No one was rude.”

We turned the corner and were ushered into a private room overlooking the water. Troy Archer stood up and held his arms out, hugging Rhodes and kissing him on each cheek. He was blond with blue eyes, but I still saw so much of Rhodes in him.

Rhodes laughed and glanced at me shyly over his dad’s shoulders. “My dad’s a hugger,” he said in a British accent.

“I most certainly am,” Troy said in the same accent. He turned to look at me and I giggled…and did my best to remain in an upright position .

I fanned my face, looking at the three of them. “Whew. Beauty overload is going on right now,” I said.

Their eyes widened and then there was a burst of laughter. Troy walked over to me and held his hands out.

“May I?” he asked.

“Yes,” I answered, not even sure what he was asking, but the answer was yes.

He kissed each of my cheeks and beamed at me. “Hello, Elle Benton,” he said. “No wonder you’re Rhodes’ best friend. You are beautiful and funny and a breath of fresh air.”

“You think so?” I squeaked.

Troy nodded and Rhodes stood next to him, smiling at me fondly.

“Told ya,” Rhodes said.

I wasn’t sure if he was saying that to me or his dad, but it just further highlighted that I needed to remember the best friend part. Because there was no way that someone like Rhodes Archer would ever be interested in me as anything more.