Page 83 of Fall With Me
My eyes scan Finn’s entire body, landing on his ankle. His left foot is swollen and a purplish blue bruise surrounds his ankle bone. “You’re okay otherwise.”
“Yeah.”
“What were you doing?”
Finn smiles. “I bet Chloe I could jump farther than her off of a swing.”
Chloe and her damn bets.
Chloe stands, putting a hand on my elbow. “It’s my fault. I told him about me and Carter doing it growing up and Finn wanted to try it. I should have told him no. I’m sorry, Dawson.”
“Hey, Finn. Chloe and I are going to step out to the hall for a minute. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
Chloe looks at me with brows pinching together. She pats Finn’s shoulder.
I step outside Finn’s room, closing the door behind Chloe. She stands facing me, her arms folded across her chest. “Dawson, I’m so, so sorry. I feel absolutely awful, and now that you’re here, I think it’s best I leave.”
“Yeah, I’ve got it from here.” Between the pressure with Creative Source, Carter, and now this? I can’t worry over Finn’s safety on top of everything else going on in my life.
Tears fill Chloe’s eyes. My chest throbs seeing the pain pinch her features. But I can’t comfort her or take back my words. Finn’s my priority. I lost sight of that.
But not anymore.
Chapter 37
Chloe
My head throbs. I can barely open my puffy eyes and my heart is as dry and brittle as fallen leaves. The last thing I want to do this morning after spending the night sobbing into my pillow and hating myself for being like Mom is to go to work. But I can’t afford to take any time off. I already asked for two days of leave for the festival.
Dabbing face cream under my eyes, I hope it helps the swelling subside.
I texted Dawson last night asking for an update on Finn. He hasn’t responded yet. I get it. He trusted me—heck, I trusted myself, allowed myself to believe I could have my dream, and I failed on my first test. I doubt Dawson will ever want me around Finn again.
How will Dawson and I work together to get the festival finished?
We can’t.
Ican’t. There is no way I can be around Dawson and not hate myself and at the same time wish we were still togetherknowing we aren’t. We never can be. I unlock my phone screen for the millionth time and take a breath.
Me: You have your hands full with Finn. If you’ll bring the decorations in your garage the morning of the festival, I’ll handle the rest on my own.
A notification pings. Dawson liked my message, but there’s no other response.
Me: One more thing. If you’ll set the thank-you gift supplies on your front porch tonight at six, I’ll have Kate pick them up.
I’m free, but I can’t go to Dawson’s and see him. Or Finn. The reminder that I failed and ruined us in the process is too much. I have no idea what to do about Finn. He’s going to think another woman abandoned him. Maybe I can write him a get-well card so he knows I’m thinking about him.
It takes everything in me to stay focused and get through the workday, but my heart isn’t in it. At least tonight I can focus on the festival and not my broken heart.
“What do you mean you’re not coming anymore?” I ask, pacing my living room floor.
“I’m sorry ma’am, but we double booked ourselves,” the pizza truck employee says.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “And I have to suffer because of your mistake?” What am I going to do? How am I supposed to find a food truck in less than twenty-four hours?
“We’ll email you a fifty-percent-off coupon for the trouble.”
