Page 47 of Falling for You

“Does he have another family out there somewhere that Amber just found out about?”

“Why would you accuse your own flesh and blood of any sort of thing?”

“Does he?”

“That’s not the point,” she says haughtily. I lean back in my seat, not even bothered that a wide smile is stretching across my lips as I place my hand behind my head, enjoying every single moment of this.

I chuckle because I simply can’t help it. It’s humorous and so perfect. “Oh this is fucking rich.”

She gasps. “Watch your mouth!”

“What the fuck ever,Mom.I don’t give a shit if Troy stuck his dick in three other women and has families spread all over this damn country. His problems are not my own. You calling me and trying tomakeit my problem is something I won’t tolerate. Make him clean up his own messes for once.”

“You won’t even listen to his side of the story? You’re just going to side with that bitch, Amber? Remember she was cheating on you —”

“With Troy,” I reminder her not so gently.

I guarantee she’s rolling her eyes and waving me off. How dare I speak badly of her precious boy. “Neither here nor there. Are you going to help him or side with that wench who couldn’t even —”

“Enough. Mom, I stopped caring about Amber and what choices she makes in her life the second she chose my brother over me. And I stopped caring about Troy long before that. You and Dad? Not long after I realized that I’d never in a million years live to be the son you wanted me to be. Don’t call me again, you got it? Not for anything like this, but in general, we’re done.”

“And you wonder why we don’t love you.”

There it is. The truth finally out. And wouldn’t you know? It didn’t even sting. Not a bit. Because I’ve known it all along. Felt it, saw it in the way they looked at me with disdain.

“Well, it’s nice to hear you finally admit it out loud. Lose my number, Nancy. I repeat. We’re done here.”

I don’t bother to wait for a response. I hang up. Quickly block her number. Remove hers, my brother’s and my dad’s from my phone and feel the weight of a thousand angry, confused, and sad thoughts lift from my shoulders.

Not realizing what an enormously deep irritation they’ve been in my life, I stare at the place her contact once sat and am shocked that I don’t feel any regret or longing. It just feels right. Like a piece of shrapnel that’s been lodged under my skin for years, itching and irritating me that after all this time finally comes out. The nuisance suddenly gone. It feels freeing. The extraction of their presence in my life final, and I couldn’t be happier.

So happy, in fact, I make a quick decision that has me walking through my back yard. Through the door in my fence. And across the grass that lines between the fenced in backyards.

It takes me no time at all before I’m back in the same position I was last night.

On Chloe’s doorstep, hoping she doesn’t think I’m a crazed lunatic. And that she’s home.

I press her doorbell, barely refraining from obnoxiously ringing it in fast succession, and she opens up the heavy wooden door, revealing herself behind it with surprised, happy eyes.

Fuck she’s beautiful.

Hair a mess on top of her head with a few stray pieces framing her gorgeous face. Free of any trace of makeup, her skin is dewy and almost glowing. Brown eyes so rich I want to get lost in the depths of them. Her plump, pink lips form an “O” when she spots me which is quickly replaced by a beaming smile that almost arrests my heart.

Fuck.

She’sbeautiful.

“Oh my gosh! Get in here!” Her voice is full of excitement as she grabs hold of the front of my shirt and yanks me to her. I stumble inside, surprised at her strength.

And the next thing I know, she has me pressed against the wall after slamming the door shut behind her.

And gives back to me exactly what I gave her last night.

A kiss that I’ll remember for a lifetime.

Chapter Twelve

Chloe

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