Play Along (Windy City, #4)

by Liz Tomforde

“You live, laugh, love me?” “God, so fucking much.”

i am MELTING

“C’mon, Rhodes.” My tone is teasing. “Play along.”

STFUUUUUUUU 😭😭😩😩🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭

There’s not a thought that goes through my mind to stop me, not a moment of hesitation that stills my hand when I grab my car keys off the kitchen counter and head for my front door.

OMG PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEEEEE

I stuff my feet into a pair of shoes and swing the door open the same time the elevator down the hall lands on my floor. My eyes immediately lift to her.

THANK GOD

“I don’t know why. I don’t know when it changed. But you always tell me to do what feels good, and I’ve never felt better than when I’m with you.”

🥹

“I like holding your hand in public.” He doesn’t even try to lower his voice when he adds, “And I like holding your throat in private.”

jesus

She takes a seat, but doesn’t reach for her food, simply staring at it instead. “What’s wrong?” I ask quietly while the rest of the table is too busy chatting to hear me. “You put fries on my burger.”

ugh isaiah you sap 😩😩

I huff a laugh. “I remember every single thing about you, Kenny. In case you haven’t figured it out already, you’re my favorite subject to study.”

“Hey, Isaiah?” “Yeah?” “I live, laugh, love you too.”

“I love you.” The words are out of my mouth before I can overthink them, but fuck it. They’ve been true for a long time already.

HELLO ?????? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Kennedy stands there in the doorway, only looking at me when she says, “I didn’t get the job.”

WHAT ?????

“What are you talking about? She turned down that job offer in San Francisco to be with you. She had another option, and she didn’t want to take it.”

OH SHITTTTT

“This just came across my desk,” one of them says. “And who knows how true it could be, but rumors are circulating that Isaiah Rhodes from the Windy City Warriors is interested in a trade.”

ISAIAH RHODES PLEASE TELL ME YOU DIDNT DO SOMETHING STUPID

I grab the envelope off the table. Her eyes track it before finally she asks, “What is that?” “You know what this is.” “Isaiah—”

ARE THEY DIVORCE PPERS ISAIAH RHODES IM GOING TO BEAT YOUR ASS TAKE THEM BACK

“Please, Ken,” I plead. “Play along one more time for me. Take the weekend.”

stop ittttt 😩😩😩😩

It’s a dry thunderstorm and if it didn’t freak me the fuck out, I might be able to find the beauty in it. Purple streaks paint the sky. Bright light beams behind the iconic buildings of the Chicago skyline.

I JUST REALIZED THE FUCKING BOOK COVERRRRR OMG

“So, what do you say? As the first female team owner, it’d be my honor to have the first female team doctor.”

PERIODDDD WE LOVE REESE

“I love you,” I tell him, using the same words he found written on the signature line of our divorce papers.

🥺🥺🥺🥺

“Thanks for marrying me, baby.” “It was the best mistake I ever made.”

“Well, there could be seven Rhodeses if you and Ken ever decided to give Max and Emmy a cousin.”

EMMY ?????? KDJSJDDJCJD

Named after Miller’s dad and our mom, Emmy Mae Rhodes was born shortly after my brother retired, and any doubt or hesitation I had about him leaving the game for good was dispelled the moment I saw how centered he was at home with the three of them.

STFUUUUUUUUUUU EMMY MAE ???:?:?;!;:!;:!

“You’re not supposed to see the bride before the wedding.” “But—” “C’mon, baby. Play along.”

HEHEHE 🥹

“Nah. They’re too busy trying to find Mallory a husband to celebrate Kennedy being happy. You know how they are.”

💀💀💀💀

That white mini dress, platform Vans, and denim jacket from our first wedding. Only this time, she had Indy embroider the back of it. Mrs. Rhodes is stitched in white thread and that’s where my eyes are glued, watching her dancing with Max on the dance floor.

🥹🥹🥹🥹

“Open it up and see.” Suspiciously watching her, I slip the lid off the cardboard box, and nestled inside is an eyeglass case. “Glasses?” Flipping open the magnetic lid, I find an interesting-looking lens outlined by thick black frames. “Sunglasses,” I correct.

STFU STFU STFU STFUUUUUUUU KENNEDY KAY RHODESSSSS