Page 46 of Fall Hard

I rolled my eyes but didn’t hide my smile as I left her there with the dogs and followed May back to the desk we’d seen on our way in. A strange feeling filled me as we settled into a couple of spinny office chairs and I felt dizzy as I recognized it for what it was: hope.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Jamie was staring at me.She’d been shooting me worried glances all afternoon and I was starting to get sick of it.

“I’m fine,” I said for what felt like the millionth time.

“If my mom randomly turned up here, I would not be fine.”

“Well, my mom didn’t,” I pointed out and she rolled her eyes. “Look, it’s fine. I appreciate your concern. It’s just dinner.”

“And why is Bryn going with you again?”

What was with the tone? “Moral support.”

“Right.” Jamie snorted. “Tell me, is she as good as you’d think she’d be? At the ‘moral support’?”

“You do realize I’m not sleeping with her.”

“Oh, I get it.”

“What?” I huffed and Jamie laughed at the grumpy expression on my face as I pausedPretty Little Liarsagain.

“You’re in denial.”

“Bryn and I are just friends.”

“Friends who kiss?”

I threw a pillow at her head. “I told you that because I was confused! Not to use as ammo.”

“Confused because youlo-oveher.”

I slurped my smoothie and ignored her jibing. “Grow up.” She opened her mouth again and I shushed her as I hit play. “No. You do not speak during the infamous Haleb shower scene.”

Jamie’s eyes immediately latched on to the TV and she sighed happily. “Why does this scene just hit different? I would do them both.”

I snickered. “Even I can appreciate Caleb superiority.”

“Agreed.”

“You know, I got Bryn hooked onThe Vampire Diaries. We’re almost at season five now and…” I chattered on and only looked up when Jamie had been suspiciously silent for a long time. “What?” I asked, finding her eyes on me and a soft look on her face.

“Nothing, it’s just nice listening to you talk about her.”

I sniffed in irritation but could feel my cheeks getting hot. “Whatever,” I muttered and Jamie laughed as she stood up to go to the bathroom.

I squinted up at the TV. It was nice having it out of the way on the wall mount, but it was now slightly too high for me to comfortably watch, I’d clearly gotten used to giving my eyes a break when Bryn and I watched on my laptop in bed. I sighed reluctantly before reaching behind the sofa and grabbing a small box discreetly placed on the window ledge.

Just for a few minutes, I thought as I slipped the glasses on. I didn't wear them as much as I was supposed to, but they just got in the way and felt stupid on my face. I couldn’t deny the instant relief they brought though. The screen focused and the headache that had been slowly building at the back of my head started to ease.

Then Jamie walked in and saw me. For a second she just stared and then her mouth fell open.

“Since when do you haveglasses?They look so fucking good. Why don’t you wear them all the time?”

I whipped them off my face and glared at her. “You saw nothing.”

“Liv, seriously. They’re so cute.”

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