Page 32 of Before We Fell

“Goodnight, Miss Frazier,” I said, grinning against my thumb, wishing she’d tell me to kiss her.

She didn’t. She pressed on my wrist, pushing my hand away from her. I let her go reluctantly, stepping back and licking my own lips.

“Goodnight, Mr. Wilkes.” Her grin shook. Like we shared a secret joke.

We definitely shared a secret. I admitted I wanted her.

She didn’t tell me she didn’t feel the same…just that we shouldn’t.

Which wasn’t close to being the same as couldn’t.

Or wouldn’t.

My lawyer-sharp mind found the loophole. Someday I’d figure out a way to exploit it.

“Thank you for tonight,” I said as she turned away. Her house was in view, across the yard. I’d stay in the shadows to make sure she got in safe. “I really do appreciate you trying to help me, even if I’ve been an ass.”

“Forgiven. Let me know if I can help any more with Riley. I don’t mind.”

She slid the bag I’d been holding out of her hands and took the few steps to her sliding door. “Make sure you lock up.”

Her response was a smile. Bright enough to light up the dark sky. She didn’t answer, but stepped inside and shut the door behind her, making a dramatic show of flicking the lock, lifting a piece of wood and dropping it into the track. She waved and then tugged on a rope, sealing her inside, taking her from view.

I trudged back through her yard not bothering with my flashlight again, entered my own house, and went straight to bed.

Alone. And hating it.

Eleven

Lauren

There wasn’tanything special about The Tavern bar. It was a typical small-town bar in a small town, outdated with old school neon lights on the walls advertising the typical all-American beers. The owners had given it a paint job a few years back, painting over the blank wood walls and making everything a light gray so the small bar felt much bigger than it was.

Tinley and I were sitting on the raised area, separated by a railing from the small dance floor, more seating and the bar at the far side had a hi-top table near the dartboards and pool tables. Several men stood at the boards, taking turns while Tinley and I patiently waited for ours. Eventually, they’d leave, or Tinley would grow impatient and ask to join.

Which wasn’t what I preferred. I loved playing, but more times than I cared to admit to anyone, my darts bounced off the walls, well outside the electronic machine. I couldn’t even blame alcohol as a factor since I rarely had more than two drinks when I was out. Playing around strangers always made it harder to shake off my embarrassment.

Around us, the bar was packed, typical for a Saturday night. The bar on the far side had lines of customers three deep and the two bartenders worked frantically to serve them all. Fortunately for us, we had our own waitress.

It was only one of the reasons why we always sat up here.

The main reason was so we could people-watch. Tinley loved it almost as much as she loved restoring curbside junk she found on her weekly drives around town early in the morning before the garbage trucks went by.

“So tell me more about school,” Tinley said, sticking her miniature-sized red straw into her mouth and sipping her Jack and Coke. “What’s your class like this year?”

“We’re only three weeks in, but so far, they’re great. I have a couple students that I absolutely adore.”

She already knew about Riley, so I didn’t bother mentioning her. But she wasn’t far from my mind that day. Neither had Noah been.

Last night had been fun, and not only did I enjoy being with him, but I went to bed unable to kick his last few words to me out of my brain. I tossed in my bed that suddenly felt too large, too cold, too…empty.

“You’re not mine to have. Even if I want it.”

And then the way he’d kissed me without kissing me, brushing the corner of his lips against his thumb on my cheek. I shivered at the memory. Took matters into my own hands when I couldn’t fall asleep last night.

God. He’d admitted he wanted me. For exactly what, I was unsure. A night of sex? Was that it?

It really didn’t matter.

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