Page 93 of Before We Fell

Fortunately, the teasing in her tone and the grin wrapping around her coffee mug means she’s not really upset.

“I know. Sorry, so sorry.”

“Please. No apologies. Just get to the good stuff. Like, how, what, when…and please…be specific about thehow.”

“You’re crazy.” I sipped my coffee, cradling it in my hands. “And I am sorry. It all happened so slowly. Then suddenly. And then I wanted to keep it quiet for awhile.”

“Your job.”

“Partly, but really, I think it’s more because I was scared of it not being real.” The admission flew forth unbidden. And I hadn’t even realized that had been part of it. Noah swept into Carlton and then somehow I steamrolled right into his life, and yet, until we’d gone to Kansas City, he hadn’t made any mention of staying permanently. Until I knew that, I’d been holding back from him.

“And is it?” Tinley leaned forward, head tilted.

“I love him.”

Tinley’s jaw went slack, gaping like a fish. I took her momentary silence and started talking. I told her everything, from the beginning to last night. To waking up in his arms this morning and sneaking out of his house before Riley woke up. By the time I was done, she was no longer gaping like a fish but had a jaw and mouth as wide as a shark.

I leaned in and pressed my finger to her jaw, snapping her mouth shut.

She shook her head as if she needed to clear it. “Wow. That’s…that’s wow…a lot, honey.”

I grinned around the edge of my mug. “He’s a lot,” I drawled, my innuendo clear. “And perfect.”

“Ugh. Jealous doesn’t describe how I feel hearing that,” she teased. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’d had a nice good shagging?”

Her problem might have been that she used the word shagging instead of sex or fucking.

“I bet I could think of someone who could help with that,” I said. She blushed to the roots of her shiny blonde hair and shook her head.

“Shut up.”

“How’s Gavin’s dad doing, anyway?”

She stuck out her tongue at me. As one of the few who knew about her lifelong crush on the guy, I took every opportunity to tease her about it. Personally, the guy was hot and sexy…but a complete ass. At least from my limited experience.

And putting the topic on Gavin got it off of me.

“Not well. He’s at home resting, but they have a full-time nurse coming in, practically living there. Mom heard she doesn’t think he’ll be here much longer.”

The world would probably be a better place. Tinley wouldn’t have disagreed, but I kept the thought to myself.

“Have you talked to Gavin at all?”

“No. He wouldn’t want me there.”

“You should. Take him some food. He can’t be enjoying being the only one there with his dad.” He had a sister who was married with two brats that should have been shipped off to military school years ago, and they were only twelve now. But I’d heard of some of the stuff they pulled when they visited.

I was content knowing I’d never have to teach the little jerks.

But as far as I knew, Gabriella never returned home except for once a year during the summer to pay her duty as a daughter. Probably to stay included in her father’s sure to be large trust fund.

“He’s alone,” Tinley said, and her lips twisted into disgust. “At least most of the time.”

That meant Jenni was back. “Ew.”

“Yeah. So I’m not going there while I have a chance of seeing her.”

“Or maybe you going there and seeing him would make him realize he needs to cut her loose for good.”

---