Page 33 of Accidentally Falling
“Good boy.”
His tail thumps gently on the ground as Arden’s black sedan pulls into the driveway, and we stare at each other through the windshield as she puts the car in park.
But then her hands return to the wheel, her knuckles pronounced as her eyelids squeeze shut.
“Stay,” I tell Dez, moving across to her door before pulling it open. It’s not easy but I manage to unclip her seatbelt and pull her out of the car and into my arms, using my boot to kick it shut.
Arden’s body curls into mine as her tears soak my shirt, her hands fisted in it as the collar pulls away from my neck. I’m struck again by the way she never questions if I can hold her—if I can carry her weight.
I can, and I always will.
Whistling softly, I call Dez who follows us into the house, his nails clicking on the hardwood as I drop down onto the oversized couch.
“She’s not happy for us.” The words are a heartbroken whisper, Arden’s body trembling in my arms as I hold her.
“Your mother?” I ask more for confirmation than anything else. When she nods, I squeeze her tighter, unable to find the words to make it okay. “Tell me what to do.”
“I just want to sleep.” When I try to move her onto the cushion she shakes her head. “With you.”
“My leg can’t handle sleeping here. I’ll have to take you upstairs.”
“Then take me.”
ARDEN
The room isdark when I finally wake up, my body still exhausted from the fight with my mom.Was it a fight?
I think it was and the urge to cry makes my face hot. There’s grumbling behind me that I know is Jude, his arm locked protectively around my middle. But then what…
The mass in front of me moves, stretching back as its head lolls to one side, revealing one very sleepy dog.
Dez.
This time when I snuggle back into Jude, I let the tears fall, something about this moment so incredibly sweet and reassuring when I’m unable to stand on my own.
“The owner of that bar? Jesus, Arden, do you even know him? He’s the complete opposite of your father.”
“I’m ready to wage whatever war this is.” Jude’s voice is gravelly with sleep but there’s no mistaking the intensity just below the surface.
“I don’t know what the answer is, but I’m incredibly grateful for you and this handsome puppy,” I coo and chuckle when Dez’s tail thumps against the blanket.
“Do you want a solution or support?”
“What?” I ask, as he presses a kiss to my shoulder, the gesture incredibly intimate as it sends a little zing through me.
“Do you want me to listen, or do you want me to help you figure this out?”
“You’re awfully verbose for someone who grunts to communicate ninety percent of the time in public.”
“It’s my party trick.”
I snort out a laugh, my heart fluttering when I feel Jude’s mouth turn up into a smile against my bare skin.
“I don’t want to think about it tonight. I want to pretend it never happened.”
“Anything else?”
“Baby is hungry,” I tell him, lacing our fingers together and placing our joined hands over my belly.
