“Then at one point, she talked him into doing ‘publicity’ and being seen going out with this other country singer, and I told him if he did, he could go fuck himself. He said he had to, that he was doing it for us because there were rumors going around that he might not like women—like there’s something wrong with that—because he didn’t have a girlfriend and was never seen with anybody. And I left. I was gone a month. I stayed with Yuki. He did it. That’s when I told you that we’d split up and he’d kissed someone else. And eventually, then he came looking and begged me to get back together.
“Things were never the same after that. About a year later, he and his mom decided they were going to try and ‘do something else’ with his music, so they hired some producer instead of going through me… and that was the official beginning of the end. I think about it now, and I guess they figured out I was writing less and less. I bet they, or at least his mom, were trying to phase me out. A year after that, it was over. He had left for some ‘business meetings,’—which I later found out had really been him staying at his mom’s—came home and said things weren’t working anymore, reminded me that the house was under his name since his mom wouldn’t let me be on the deed because ‘someone might find out,’ and he walked out. The next day, she disconnected my cell. It’s kind of messed up, but I think that bothered me more than splitting up did.”
Rhodes just blinked at me. One long, slow blink, and all he was able to say was “Wow.”
I nodded at him.
“If he hasn’t already, he’s going to wake up one day and think, that’s the worst mistake of my life,” he said in surprise.
“For a long time, I hoped and prayed that exact thing would happen, but I told you, I just don’t care anymore.” I squeezed his hand. “When his mom showed up, that’s what I told her too. So you know, he has tried emailing me. Months ago. I never replied to him.”
The surprised expression on his features disappeared, and his serious face was back on as he dipped his chin once. “Thank you for telling me.”
“Also, so you know, I’ve talked about it with Yuki and my aunt, and we all agree he’s only trying to get back in contact because the two albums he did without me did so bad.”
Rhodes’s eyes roamed my face, and he softly said, “That’s not the only reason, sweetheart, believe me.”
I shrugged. “But it’s not like I can write anymore anyway. Or that even if I did, I would ever go back to that bullshit.”
“You know that doesn’t factor at all between us, yeah? You know I don’t care even a little bit about that, don’t you?”
I pressed my lips together and nodded.
His gaze caught mine and held it, the lines on his forehead there and fierce. “I almost feel bad for the idiot.”
“You shouldn’t.”
Rhodes’s mouth and words softened. “I said almost.” His hand squeezed mine. “He really gave you all that money?”
“He had to or I would’ve gone after him in court, and then everything would’ve blown up in his face,” I explained. “I’m not dumb. After his little fake relationship, I thought of what my mom would say, and she would’ve told me to take care of myself first. So I kept proof, pictures, and screenshots that would have been more than enough to screw him over in court. I figured I deserved it. I’d worked for it. It’s mine.”
I knew I didn’t imagine the pleased and proud glint in his eyes. “Good.”
“It won’t bother you then?” I asked after a moment.
“What?”
“The money.”
He looked right into my eyes as he said, “Is it going to bother me that you’re rich? No. I always wondered what it would be like to have a sugar mama.”
I grinned and knew I had one more thing to say to him before I hoped we never talked about Kaden again. “This is the happiest I’ve been since I was a kid, Tobers. I want you to know that. This is where I want to be, okay?”
He nodded solemnly.
“I love you, and I love Am. I just… want to be here. With you two.”
Rhodes’s hand went to my face, his thumb under my jaw. “And that’s where you’re going to be,” he said. “Never in a million years did I ever think somebody—somebody other than Am—could make me feel the way you do. Like I’d do anything, anything, for them. I can’t even look at you when I’m mad because I can’t stay that way.” He lowered his face, so his lips hovered inches from mine. “I’ve only had a few things in my life that were really mine, and I’m not the type of man to give things away or throw them away. And I mean it, Aurora, and it’s got nothing to do with your notebooks or your face or anything other than that heart you’ve got in your chest. Are we clear?”