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It was midday Sunday and it seemed their brief interlude was over. She had to go back to being Big Cate.
Maybe it wasn’t healthy to want to be Little all the time. But she felt like she needed more of a respite from everything going on.
There was the sound of the door opening and then Rhodes strode into the living room. He looked slightly wild as his gaze moved around the room before zeroing in on her. He stormed toward her and she felt Ethan move closer to her as though he thought Rhodes was a threat to her.
Just as she braced herself for Rhodes to come into contact with her, he stopped and held his arms open.
Even in this state, he was trying to respect her boundaries.
She threw herself at him. He was careful not to hold her too tight, but this was her brother. Her Rhoddy.
By shutting out everyone else, maybe she’d been pushing him beyond her barriers too. She’d let him in more than anyone else, but not fully.
Always protecting herself from hurt.
“I love you, Rhodes.”
He stiffened, then he drew back, staring down at her in amazement. “What? Did you just say . . .” His eyes glistened.
Oh no.
Was he upset?
“I’m sorry!” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean to make you cry!”
“I’m not crying.”
Was he lying to her?
“I feel happy. I love you too.”
“Rip!” Samantha yelled as she stomped into the house. “I can’t believe you just left me in the car.”
Cate winced at the sound of her voice. She could feel a headache coming on.
“I needed to see my sister,” Rhodes replied.
Now, she wasn’t the best at reading body language and tone, but she thought he seemed tense and sounded cold.
Rhodes hugged her again, then turned them toward Samantha.
“But you’re all right, aren’t you, Cate? I mean, surely we didn’t need to come home on an earlier flight when you’re unharmed. It was just a small fender bender.”
“She was nearly run off the road, Samantha! And photos of her were plastered on the internet when she values her privacy. Frankly, I’m not sure I like this attitude you’re showing about my sister.”
Tears filled Samantha’s eyes as Cate stared at Rhodes in shock. She’d never heard him talk to Samantha like that.
“Trouble in paradise,” Ethan whispered to her.
Oh, good, she’d read the situation correctly.
“How can you talk to me like that? You are just being so mean.”
With a cry, she ran off and Cate jumped as a door slammed.
“I apologize for that,” Rhodes said to them both tiredly.
“Is everything all right?” Cate asked.
