All Rhodes Lead Here

by Mariana Zapata

People cried over endings, but sometimes you had to cry over new beginnings.

fear the wrath of Mrs. Jones.

Let me guess, he was a mommas boy so you had a difficult time with the MIL

That seemed to be the story of my life: going to my aunt and uncle’s when my world fell apart.

Don't feel bad about having a safe space <3

A gallon of water even though it was less than a one-mile hike? Check. Brand-new hiking boots I had only tried breaking in walking around the apartment that were more than likely going to give me blisters? Check. Two granola bars even though I’d just eaten breakfast? Check.

You go, prepper girl

What I hadn’t done was take into consideration the change in altitude. How much more intense the UV rays were here.

DID YOU NOT WEAR SUNSCREEN?!?!?!

All because my dumb ass had forgotten to put sunblock on

I THOUGHT YOU WERE PREPPER GIRL

who I’d confirmed was Mr. Rhodes because I’d used binoculars and read the name embroidered on his uniform shirt,

Girl wtf

Fortunately for me though, Mrs. Jones hadn’t wanted me driving around a car under their last name

The more you tell me, the more I want her address

I reached up to try and close his hood but couldn’t reach. He slid me a side look as he lifted a hand and slammed it shut.

Hot

The man who had promised to really marry me one day when his career was just right and a relationship wouldn’t hurt his wittle fanbase. “You understand, don’t you, beautiful?”

I want to fight this man

I had a good heart—as long as you hadn’t wronged me.

OK, Mr Darcy

“Hi, Mr. Rhodes,”

Calling him Mr Rhodes really gives him hot dad energy but that could just be my issues talking

It was Mr. Rhodes. Chopping wood. Shirtless.

I'm drooling at the thought

He was the DILF to end all DILFs.

Definitely Jensen Ackles vibes

“Who did that to you?” he asked in a slow, slow voice. “No one,” I tried to explain again.

This is the vibe we love

My landlord got up to his feet at the same time one of those big, rough hands went to my shoulder and curled around it. “You can tell me. I’ll help you.”

PLS TAKE CARE OF MEEEEE

“Explain.” Bossy. My face went hot.

I swear she is me

“He’s got a beautiful voice.” That’s when he did it. He smiled. Proud and wide, like he knew just how beautiful of a voice his child had and it filled him with joy.

A proud dad is a hot dad

He didn’t look at me. “I spent all morning on a trail because a hiker found some remains.”

No pls don't tell me it's her mother

“Careful. You got it…,” he said as I blew out a breath. “You’re doing great.”

If he is a hot dad who likes to praise, I think I will actually die

“You’re doing great.”

SIR STOP

“Going out again?” Someone was chatty tonight. “No.”

No, honey, someone is jealous

“Are you humming what I think you’re humming?” And me replying with “Yes.” “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”

I've literally done this

He didn’t say another word as he unlocked it and dropped the tailgate, shooting me a look over his shoulder as he patted it

Hooooooooooot

He scooped me up, one arm under the backs of my knees, the other around my lower back, and planted me on the truck. In a sitting position. Like it was no big deal.

This is the fucking dream

“You know, you keep on being nice to me, and I’m going to think you like me.” That big body stopped right where he was and one gray eye was on me over his shoulder as he asked in that rough, serious voice, “Who says I don’t like you?”

RHODES STOPPPP

“All he’s gonna do is complain and bring up everything you’ve done wrong, Dad, like he always does.”

Immediately no, old man is cancelled

Mostly because I was going to go beat the shit out of a grandfather for talking about my Amos like that.

I hold, you punch

There was a sleek tent pitched in the area between the garage apartment and the main house. Beside it were two camping chairs with a lantern between them. Rhodes was sitting in one of them.

MARRY ME

I was… going to be number eleven forever when I would’ve been happy being three or four. I’d prefer number two, but I could settle.”

I fucking feel this bUT YOU SHOULD NEVER SETTLE

His mom is the Antichrist, and he was a momma’s boy.

Ofc

“Call me when you get there and when you finish.” He paused, thinking about his words before adding, “Please.”

Say please one more time, please

“I’m here. I’ve got you. You’re going to be okay, angel.”

LOVE ME PLEASE

Jealousy—pure-blooded jealousy—sprung out of nowhere inside of my stomach, and honestly, it surprised the shit out of me.

I don't think any of us are surprised at all, but don't worry, he's not interested in whoever she is

Like he was giving me his blessing to follow what my heart was asking for. Not that I even really knew what that was.

Yes you do, you want to fuck the hot dad which is completely valid

I had no clue what drove him to this point now, of leading me to his room.

Are you dumb?

“I wasn’t hiding, and it wasn’t like Kaden didn’t know I grew up here.” He’d just forgotten or never processed it enough in the first place.

It takes so little to give a fuck and he didn't

his overprotectiveness just did something to me. Big-time.

I want myself an over-protective hot dad

Rhodes took the initiative and finished folding my laundry.

Where can I get one?

“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.

Once again, I ask you to marry me

“Aurora… I need to talk to you.”

If this is about the remains they found and I was right, I'll scream

“Do you remember me telling you a while back about those remains a hiker had found?”

NO

“They’re your mom’s, sweetheart.”

I KNEW IT

Rhodes had been standing in the kitchen yawning, but the second he’d spotted me, his arms had dropped to his sides and he’d given me a flat, level look and asked, “What do you need from me?”

This is what I want

It was grief, and some part of me recognized and remembered that there were stages of it. The one no one ever told you about was the final one when you felt everything at once. It was the hardest. And I didn’t want to put that on Rhodes. I didn’t want to put it on anyone.

Some people want to help you carry it regardless

That hurt my feelings too, but it mostly made me feel guilty. Guilty that I wasn’t around enough. Guilty that I wasn’t trying hard enough. I had wanted him. I thought about him all the time.

My daddy issues heart can't with this man

The people we lose take a part of us with them… but they leave a part of themselves with us too.

“That’s the difference between guys like you and me. If she needed something, you’d give her a hundred dollars from your wallet even if you had more and think that was good enough. I’d give her everything that was in mine.”

A good man vs an immature manboy

And the thought, the words, came to me again. I found a place where I belong, A place with love that feels like home again.