Page 75 of Love By The Falls

She laughs. “It’s okay. I deserved it.”

“I need to hear the whole story. Let me walk you back to your seat. Your boyfriend’s probably wondering what happened to you.”

She stops walking and looks up at me. “Boyfriend?”

“Oh, maybe you haven’t labeled your relationship yet.” Or maybe they’re already married.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The guy standing in the private box. He had his arms all over you.”

Okay, that sounds a little possessive even to my ears, but the words were out, and I couldn’t take them back.

She covers her mouth and laughs louder this time. “Are you talking about Austin? He’s not my boyfriend, although I wish I’d let him walk me home from school that day instead of Jason. But he’s my friend Jane’s husband.”

“Jane’s husband. Oh, yes, I remember you mentioning him.”

She nods.

“So, not your boyfriend or significant other?”

She shakes her head and pouts her lips. “Nope.”

I exhale loudly, and she smiles at my relief. I’m pretty darn happy about it, too.

Surprisingly,very happy.

Still chuckling, I add, “It’s so great to see you.” I look closely at her now that she’s in front of me again, and for the first time, notice something different about her body.

I blink several times, trying to understand, when her voice interrupts my confusion.

“Caleb,” she says. “We need to talk.”

19

Charlotte

My stomach tumbles over and over like a lone T-shirt in a dryer.

He’s here, with me, together again, and I’m carrying his baby. Only, he doesn’t know that yet. I need to tell him now.

I think I’m gonna throw up.

I buy myself some time when he walks me back to the private box and I introduce him to Austin and Jane.

Jane’s eyes widen to saucers, and she can’t take her gaze off him. Austin notices and narrows his eyes at Caleb.

Caleb doesn’t seem to notice anything as his gaze roams over Austin’s shoulders into the seats below. “Is that Charlie?”

I look over my shoulder and spot Charlie and Anthony cheering some double play on the field. I smile. “Yes, that’s him.”

“Can I meet him?”

I hesitate. I hadn’t planned to introduce him to Charlie, but considering he’s the father of Charlie’s younger sibling, I really can’t avoid that.

“Sure.”

Jane grabs my arm. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”