Page 14 of Falling

“Is that an ice rink out there?” she asks excitedly.

“It’s a little rough right now, but in a few weeks it’ll be better for skating on. My nephew likes to come out here and skate every chance he gets.”

“How old is he?”

“Eight.”

“Is he your only nephew or do you have nieces too?”

“I have a niece now too. She’s four, and my brother asked her mom to marry him last night. She said yes,” I add.

I grin, thinking about the way Dakota announced to all of us that Wyatt and Marlow are having a baby.

“That’s incredible. You’re so lucky to have such a close family. They all live here, right?”

I nod and take a bite of my eggs. My eyebrows lift in surprise.

“Is it okay?” she asks.

“Delicious.”

“Oh, good.” Her expression relaxes and she leans back in her seat like she’s too relieved to move, but then she sits up and takes a big bite of food.

She dusts her mouth with her napkin when I keep staring. I look down at my plate and focus on the food. When she carefully lifts her mug, I pause and barely breathe until she takes a sip and sets the mug back down. She laughs when she sees my face.

“I hope I wouldn’t burn myself two days in a row. My luck’s not always the best, but…” A cloud crosses her face and she swallows hard, looking down at her plate as she picks up her fork.

I find myself wanting to know what caused that look, what made her go quiet, what if she’s in pain?

The sound of our forks on our plates is all that fills the air for a few minutes, and I wish that I were good at any of this. But that’s just foolish. She won’t be here long anyway.

A sound in the kitchen has our heads turning in that direction. Her phone. I don’t miss the sag in her shoulders.

“I’m going to deal with life after I feed Dolly. Wish me luck.”

She stands and takes her plate to the sink. I watch her go, at odds with this curiosity I have about her. I keep eating, forcing myself to shush all the questions warring inside.

What’s her story?

Who did she leave behind?

Where did she come from and how soon is she going back?

Just how hurt is she? And I don’t just mean the burns…

It’s none of my business.

End of story.

And there’s no way I’m going to make an effort getting to know her.

I learned my lesson about that a long time ago. Every woman I’ve ever been invested in leaves.

CHAPTER FIVE

GRATITUDE OVERLOAD

RUBY

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