Page 19 of The Weight Of Falling
I inhale sharply. Joel’s abruptness with Bobby is mortifying, but also breathtaking. I would neverdare.
“Okay, then, what about next weekend, Kenzie?” Bobby asks me, hope in his eyes and just enough alcohol in his system to act like Joel’s not even there.
I brave a look at Joel. He meets my gaze, eyebrows raised, leaving it up to me.
Alarm curls in my belly as I cling to the side of this runaway conversational train for dear life. Sofia and Tess are always admonishing me to stand up for myself. Is that also what Joel’s doing? Encouraging me to find my elusive backbone?
I stare directly at Bobby. “I don’t think so.”
Surprise flashes across his face. And... Oh, no, I’m almost certain I can detect hurt there too. I bite my lip. “I’m really sorr—”
Joel squeezes my shoulders again. I fall silent, message received loud and clear.You have nothing to apologize for, his squeeze says.
I swallow. “It’s not going to happen, Bobby. Have a good life.”
His jaw drops. Joel quickly steers me away, either while the going is still good or before I undo the first moment I’ve ever truly stood my ground.
Once we’re out of earshot, I turn to him in excitement. “Did you see that? Look at me go. I told him, didn’t I?”
“Have a good lifewas definitely telling him,” Joel says dryly. This time, his smile reaches his eyes. “Worst insult ever.”
“It wasmyworst insult ever,” I tell him happily, still in awe at myself. Maybe this is the start of a new fearless Kenzie.
And then I remember what Joel said. I stop and turn to face him in genuine confusion. “Why did you tell Bobby we had a date when we clearly don’t?”
His expression darkens at the mention of Bobby. “That idiot,” he mutters. “I couldn’t stand the way he was talking to you. And that look on his face rubbed me the wrong way.”
“That doesn’t seem like enough of a reason to give up your Saturday evening.”
“I wanted him humiliated more than I wanted my solitude.” He rubs his chest like it’s too tight. Like it’s suddenly dawning on him exactly what he’s offered.
My immediate instinct is to let him off the hook. “Look, I’m grateful you stepped in when you did, but you don’t have to go through with it.”
Brown Oaks is small enough and gossipy enough that if Bobby really wanted to, he could find out whether I actually went out with Joel. Maybe he’d let it go. Or maybe he’d throw it in my face the next time he saw me. I honestly don’t know what he’d do. But I don’t disclose any of that to Joel. Because the last thing I want is to guilt him into taking me out.
Joel opens his mouth to reply, but a sudden wariness cuts across his face. I follow his gaze to discover Farah staring at him like he’s dessert.
“Wow,” I murmur, “she seems really into you.”
He turns away with a groan. “That’s an understatement.”
“How long has she been, um, pursuing you?”
“Long enough.”
When I continue to look at him questioningly, he sighs. “Last week, she commissioned me to photograph her kids. Ever since then, she’s been showing up at my studio unannounced. In her own words, she’s convinced we havepotential.”
“And you don’t think so?”
He doesn’t even hesitate. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because she wants something serious.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“I don’t do relationships.”
