Page 56 of Accidentally Falling
Because Arden James threw walls up left and right in the months following the incident with her mother, an incident they hadn’t recovered from.
Not yet.
I’ve worked tirelessly to get us back on an even playing field, and I won’t have a setback now. Despite her resistance, I don’t think Arden hates the idea of us living together. I just need to figure out a way to show her how great things can be.
“What if I tell you I got you a cupcake?” Leaning my hip against the edge of the counter, I cross my arms over my chest and wait.
“You fight dirty.” She pouts and I want to roll my eyes.
“Baked goods was the secret? I would have done that weeks ago.”
“You live and you learn,” she mumbles around a bite, and I grin because she’s not wrong. She’s not wrong at all.
“Don’t forget to eat,”I call as I head toward the door.
“Oh my gosh, getout,” Arden whines, throwing her arm over her eyes as she slumps back on the couch. “I survived justfineon my own before you got here.”
“Yes, butfarless satisfied,” I quip as she growls, and I close the door behind me before crossing the driveway and climbing into my truck.
There’d been no fanfare to the actual move-in a week ago. She put fresh sheets on the guest bed and insisted I stay in there.
Which is fine.
For now.
Dez doesn’t even pretend to play favorites, choosing her bed every night like he’s the man of the house.
But that’s all right.
I’ll bide my time.
Because it feels right being under the same roof with Arden. I thought it would be more of an adjustment considering the extent of my cohabitating experience consists of being in the military and living with my brother.
Never a woman.
But there’s something about her I can’t get enough of.
She’s prickly but so damn soft on the inside, and breaking through her walls—even if just for a minute—is the best damnfeeling in the world. She makes me want to figure out how to do it all the time.
Right now, that begins withme.
I start physical therapy next week, but when I talked to Sorren about places he’d recommend, he mentioned getting a massage at the Cedar Lake Day Spa in town. It was definitely an experience and one I’m not sure I’ll be repeating. I’ve never been so sore in my entire life, and Arden made no attempt to hide her amusement.
The discomfort turned to relief after a few days, but I’m not sure I can handle all the grunting and deep breathing just to put my boots on again.
I’d also taken Deacon’s advice and put up a sign asking for part-time help at the bar. Arden’s friend Cal started yesterday, and I hate how good it feels to have someone there—not just for work but at home and inlife.
Deacon has always been in my corner, but now there are a couple more there and I can see the difference—feel it even.
Maybe this is growing up.
Maybe this is where I was always meant to be.
The thought has a smile flitting over my lips, because even though it took almost forty years, I finally made it.
And now, I have my sights set on the next forty.
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