Page 7 of Lessons in Falling
I glanced at Mike and Caden.Unfamiliar with our group’s dynamic, they were probably two seconds away from giving up on us.But there was a subtle smile on Caden’s full lips when his gaze flicked between my friends, and Mike was just listening to his girlfriend talk.I love youwritten in the blue of his eyes.
This is so fucked,Alfie concluded their rendition of Why We Didn’t Tell You You’re Sharing A Bed With A Stranger.
A quick summary: Two weeks ago, there’d been a power-outage in Mom’s neighborhood.It had been around six when the light in the oven turned off and ruined my dinner plans.When I’d grabbed my phone to tell Mom and Lisa, itwas dead.I couldn’t charge it, and therefore had no way of telling my little sisterget something on the way home.And no way to tell Momhave dinner at the bar.
So, instead of the lasagna baking in the oven while I caught up with my friends on FaceTime, I drove across half the city (which, granted, wasn’t very big) to blow some of my savings on takeout Chinese.Lisa and Mom wouldn’t be happy, I thought—and they hadn’t been.But it was all I could do to avoid how a lot of my childhood meals had looked: empty table, a shrug from Mom in front of the TV, who’d probably been too high or too depressed to feel any hunger in the first place.And had probably forgotten that just because she wasn’t hungry, didn’t mean we weren’t.
Anyway, that night must’ve been when my friends conspired to put a near-stranger in my room.When I’d gotten power back the next day, there were 300+ new messages in the group chat, and when I asked if I’d missed anything important, they’d moved through three other topics and had landed on Sophia Fischer’s new hairstyle (which they weren’t fans of).Their earlier question (Hey, Val, Mike wants to bring a friend to Oakport.Is it fine if you guys share a room?) had been completely forgotten.
Which was how we’d ended up here.
Alfie shook his head.We can put him in the room above the garage—no offense, mate.He seemed to realize as his head cocked toward Caden.The bed is just a mattress on the floor.And we’d still need to buy that mattress.But it’s got a private bath—
If you like your water pressure reminding you of a calm, trickling creek,Iris threw in.
And I’m not quite sure if we fixed the plumbing…Alfie muttered, then glanced back at the guy.Anyway,he said.I don’t mean to kick you out, but if Valentina—
Before I could help it, I heard myself say,It’s fine.
And immediately regretted it.
But I couldn’t tell if Alfie felt guiltier for forgetting to tell me, or having to put Caden into… well, a glorified attic space without a bed or working plumbing.And this was much less about Caden’s comfort than not wanting Alfie—or any of my friends, for that matter—to feel bad.So…
Don’t worry, it’s fine,I repeated.A heads-up would’ve been great, but it’s all good.We actually hit it off last night.My fingers crossed when I said,Thisclose to best friends.
Caden looked at me like I’d just committed a crime—or like he was trying to figure outifI had.Eyes narrowed, brows furrowed, lips a thin line.Probably because our encounter had been anything but buddy-buddy.Thanks to me, and that fourth margarita that had given me the rest.
I needed to apologize for that.Not the alcohol—but maybe that, too?—but for how rude I’d been.After breakfast, when we’d be trapped in the same room, anyway, I’d apologize, beg him to forget last night ever happened, and turn over a new leaf.One in which the only time we’d met, was when he’d given me three great orgasms before letting me fall asleep against his chest.
And if there was no bad blood between us, would he still flirt the way he had last night?Look at me that way, too?Would there be anything to stop us from falling into habits we’d created in the few dark hours we’d had together?
The thought—of the way he’d touched me, and the way his body had felt beneath my fingers—kind of made me want to apologize faster.
Like a friendly reminder (that Valentina Rhodes rarely ever got what she wanted), Iris guffawed across the table.At something Caden had said, presumably, because she was pointing at him, still laughing.
I must’ve been so occupied thinking about him that I missed whatever incredible joke he’d just made, and I had no time to ask about it.Iris, still cackling, said,You fit right in, Callahan.Like a part of the group we didn’t know we were missing!
They all hummed and snickered in agreement, jokingly raised their glasses of orange juice in a toast of initiation as conversations continued animatedly.My glass was up there with theirs, but my thoughts had gone somewhere else entirely.
Part of the group.
My eyes met Caden’s blue ones, and for a brief second, I mourned that I’d never see them up-close again.Wouldn’t feel his soft lips against various parts of my body.Would never again hear that gutturalFuckhe’d groaned against my skin when he’d finally pushed into me.
Because there’d be no apology.No friendly smiles and flirty banter.Nofraternizing.
Not now, after Iris had ambitiously declared him part of our group.Not now, when sleeping with him could cost me the greatest people I’d ever met.
We’d never discussed what would happen if someone broke the NFR—I could only assume exile.
Alfie leaned toward me, asked in a low voice,I’m reallysorry, Val.Are you sure this is okay?The garage unit would work—
And my eyes were still locked with Caden’s across from me when I cheerily said,Of course.Don’t worry, Alfie.Really.
But my smile dropped, and it seemed the man opposite me knew exactly what it meant.
CHAPTER 4
CADEN
