Page 65 of Make Me Swoon

“Sometimes you can’t choose who you fall in love with,” Kit says and I know that he’s thinking about how he met his wife, Stella.

He took one look at her and bam, that was it for him. Of course, it took him a few days to convince her that they were meant to be but now they’re living happily ever after.

“I love Faith. She’s already lost too much. I’m not going to be the reason that she loses another person,” I tell them and the teasing grins slip off both of their faces.

“Alright, get back to work,” Kit says, slapping Niall on the shoulder and heading back to his office.

“You’re allowed to be happy too,” Niall says, tossing the towel back at me and I catch it before it can hit me in the face.

“I know. I am.”

He doesn’t look convinced, but he leaves to head over to the ring and I nod at Brooks before I head in the opposite corner and start working out some of my frustration on the punching bags there.

My friends are right. I want Phoenix. I have since the first moment that I saw her, but every time I open my mouth to ask her if she has a boyfriend or if she wants to stay up and watch a movie with me after Faith is asleep, I remember that I can’t hit on her.

I meant what I said. I can’t be the reason that Faith loses another person. She’s already so attached to Phoenix and it’s been great for me having someone to help out around the house. Phoenix even made dinner for all of us last night, even though that isn’t part of her job description.

Having Phoenix’s help has only shown me just how tired I am. I’ve been working nonstop for close to a year now and I needed a break. I can’t go back to square one if things go south between us.

I hit the bag harder and try to ignore the way that Niall is watching me. He knows that I’ve never been with anyone before. I’ve been all about training since I was a kid. David always used to tease me because I acted like the older brother. He said that I was never really a kid. I was always serious and it wasn’t until about a year ago that I even thought about starting to date.

Then the car accident happened and everything changed.

Phoenix has been the only woman who has ever tempted me or interested me. Maybe it’s because we’re opposites in most ways. I’m serious and she’s more carefree, though I can sense that we’ve both lost someone important.

I overheard Faith and her talking about parents. I had been worried and was waiting to see if I should jump in and explain what happened to Faith’s mom and dad, but she had done just fine.

“They’re in heaven,” Faith says, her voice quiet.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Do you know anyone in heaven?” Faith asks and I peek around the doorframe to see her staring at Phoenix.

“Yeah. My grandma raised me. She went there a few years ago.”

I had left then. It seemed too personal and I didn’t want to breach anyone’s trust, but it had made me wonder what happened to Phoenix’s mom and dad. Why was she raised by a relative too?

My phone buzzes by my water bottle and I stop the bag and bend down to check the screen. My heart starts to race when I see that it’s a text from Phoenix.

Phoenix:Faith’s school just called. She threw up so I’m headed to get her.

Jameson: I’m done with training, so I’ll meet you at home.

Phoenix: Can you stop and grab some Gatorade on the way?

Jameson: Yeah, see you in twenty.

“Are you leaving already?”Niall asks as he leans on the ropes and grabs his water bottle.

“Yeah, that was Phoenix. I guess Faith threw up at school, so I’m grabbing some stuff from the store and meeting them at home.”

“Let me know if you guys need anything else and tell Faith I said to feel better soon,” he calls and I nod at him as I jog across the gym and into the locker room.

I don’t bother with a shower. I just grab my gym bag, run a towel across my face and the back of my neck and then head for the door.

The store is on the way home and so I’m not surprised that I beat them home. Faith hasn’t been sick since I became her guardian and I’m not sure what to expect. Will she want to be downstairs on the couch so that she can watch TV? Or should I put her up in her room so that she can rest without distractions?

“See? I told you that he would be home,” Phoenix says as she carries Faith inside.

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