Page 36 of Lessons in Falling
We got along well, and I usually looked forward to seeing him.Since Caden had made a surprise appearance in my room, I hadn’t even thought about reaching out to Finnick, though.When Anni had pointed him out fifteen minutes ago,I had to keep from shrieking in surprise at his existence, and I felt awful about it.
I was at least partly convinced that was Caden’s fault.Somehow.
What?I snickered at his question.Not a fan?
The corner of his lips twisted upward, and his brows followed, like I should know the answer.Don’t get me wrong.Handsome man,he admitted.But I’m not going to be a fan of you with any guy.He shrugged.Any guy that isn’t me.
Our glasses of water magically appeared between us, and he accepted them with a grateful nod and a ten-dollar bill slid across the bar, while I tried not to let his words go straight to parts of me I didn’t want him in anymore.
Yesterday, I’d gotten him out of my system, and that was that.That had been the plan.Strictly physical.Just sex.A few hours ago, you threatened me,I reminded him.And now you’re jealous?
Caden sighed, like he might actually regret his actions.My threat should be irrelevant, because you’re not telling anyone about Anova.Right?
My sister works at Anova!What about them?
Our heads shot in Finnick’s direction.He’d given up pretending not to listen, and we must’ve abandoned our pretend-whispers, because otherwise he wouldn’t have heard.Caden probably glared at him—I couldn’t see his face—and I gently shook my head in Finnick’s direction, silently letting him know this was not a conversation he wanted to be a part of.
The blond’s hands shot up in amused defense.Sorry.I’llgo mind my business all the way over there.Pointing at the wooden, creaky staircase that led down to the beach.
No need!I managed to squeeze in just before he turned around.Eyes flicking back to Caden, I said,We’re done here, anyway.and joined Finnick by the water.
CHAPTER 19
CADEN
I watched them leave together.Took a sip of my water like it was a shot, and leaned back against the bar with a sigh.One look was enough to figure the rest of the group hadn’t noticed our little back and forth just now—were probably convinced the reason why I’d rushed to the bar like it had been on fire was because I’d just beenreallythirsty.
So.I could place the voice from behind me as the bartender’s.When I turned, the amused look on her face surprised me, though.
Her black hair trimmed just above the shoulders, arms covered in a bunch of small tattoos.She wore dark eye makeup, long lashes probably fake.She was pretty, all in all.Maybe a few years older than me.Twenty-seven, at most.
I could go home with her, I thought.Leave this entire mess, this hot-and-cold game with Valentina, behind, and get lost in a woman that actually wanted me.But I dismissed the thought almost as quickly as it had come—nothing about that seemed exciting, for some reason.
So,I echoed, raised my glass at her in another thanks.Her eyes, just like mine had, were trailing after Valentina and Finn-ick.When they jumped back to me, it seemed like she was holding back a laugh.
You already hooked up?Or about to?
I groaned, and she finally let her laugh slip.Without another word, like my reaction had been answer enough, she tended to another customer down the line.
We stayed at Blitz for another hour.An hour of pretending not to be far more interested in Valentina and Finnick—sitting in the sand, by the water, talking and laughing and flirting, probably—than whatever conversation was going on around me.We’d had a perfect view of them from our table up here, so it was hardly my fault if I made use of it.
At least I wasn’t thinking about that declined job offer anymore.And, I thought, at least Valentina had left with us, and not him.I wasn’t sure what I would’ve done otherwise—I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know.
But being alone in a room with her also meant we were back to arguing with each other.Bickering like little kids.
There’s no way.She shook her head, firm in her stance.She’d changed out of her denim skirt and tank top into something a little warmer—sweatpantsand a tank top.Instead of flip-flops, she was wearing sneakers.Because she was about to go for a walk.It was almost midnight, and it was a full moon.
Why did half of her bucket list have to be outside, in the middle of the night?
Valentina,I snickered, like she should know better.She should.
Instead of listening, she opened the door out of our room.I followed her into the hallway, and she managed to ignore me all the way down the stairs, through the hallway, until we were outside.Which was where I reminded her,We had a deal.
We’d hook up, then I’d help her with that list.At least for me, it had been a win-win, when I’d been in no position to make demands in the first place.
Caden!she snapped—continued walking, though.Probably hoping to get away from me.I’m pretty sure our deal is off the table.Don’t you think?
Her tone wasn’t ideal, but at least she was saying more than,I’d rather get kidnapped than have you there.
