Page 18 of Falcon

Chapter 5

Falcon

Nora is standing on her front porch, having a cup of coffee when I come strolling out of Faith’s house.

“Oh for fuck’s sake, Marco. Tell me you didn’t sleep with Faith already,” she asks when I climb the front steps.

“Wow. Is that what you think of me?” I ask. “Glad to know I’m so high up on your list.”

“Since it’s your MO, yeah, kinda.” She sips her coffee loudly with a hint of a smirk.

“No, I didn’t sleep with her. I went for a run this morning, caught up with her, and she fell. I helped her back to her house.” I plop down onto the porch swing.

“Is she all right?”

“Yeah, her palms were banged up and her knee took a hit, but she’s fine.”

My mind circles back to her…well…her everything. She’s so different than anyone I’ve been around in so long. I’m intrigued by her, and I’m obviously attracted to her. Who wouldn’t be? She’s fucking beautiful. Not just hot as fuck, but stunning.

“Well, that’s good.”

“So what’s her deal?” I look to my sister.

“What do you mean?”

“Just, what’s her deal? What’s her story?”

“I mean, all I know about it really is that she moved here from Tennessee almost five years ago. Case helped her get a job at the police station. She loves Arya. She makes the best pasta I’ve ever had. I don’t know what else you expect me to know.”

“Does she have a boyfriend?” I prop back with my fingers intertwined behind my head.

“Here we go.” She finishes her coffee then looks into the bottom of the mug. “I should have put bourbon in this with you being here.

I lean over and kiss her cheek. “You love me being here.”

“For some reason.” She laughs. “And no, she doesn’t have a boyfriend. She goes on dates sometimes, has guys over occasionally, but she isn’t seriously dating anyone that I’m aware of.”

“Perfect.”

“Marco. Don’t you dare play games with her. She’s my friend now too, and I want to keep it that way.”

“I’m not going to play games. She seems interesting and if I’m going to be here a few weeks, I’d like to get to know her.”

“Case will kill you if you hurt her and he’s a cop. He…”

“Seems like Case stole my exact thoughts about you. I will end him if he ever hurts you.”

“My ever protective brother.”

“Only way I know how to be.”

Faith

“Sorry, I’m late!” I scramble into The Pit for lunch. I meet my friend, Rose, here every week for lunch. “I ran a bit late this morning as a whole and it has thrown my entire day off.”

Rose waves me off. “It’s fine. I just got here anyway. No worries.”

Jason, our usual server, passes by with a wave, letting us know he’s putting in our usual order. We come here so often; he doesn’t even have to ask anymore.

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