Page 85 of Fall With Me

“How’s your father doing?” my dad asked Reece.

I stiffened as I eyeballed him. My dad was oblivious.

“He’s doing okay. On Divorce Number Five Hundred,” he said nonchalantly, but I knew his father’s inability to be faithful and not lie was a huge issue for him. Not a hang-up, though. If it was, he wouldn’t have gotten over the fact I had lied. But still bothered him nonetheless. “Same old same old stuff, basically.”

Dad cleared his throat. “Well, one of these days, I hope your father finds happiness. Everyone deserves that.”

Did they? I wasn’t so sure about that, but my parents were seconds away from finding a tree and hugging it. It was when I was helping Mom clean up the table and Reece had disappeared into the den with Dad, my brother, and Megan, that I was completely cornered by her and the expansion of her grandmamma dreams.

“Are you two stopping by and seeing his mother before you head back?” she asked as she loaded up the dishwasher.

Wait. Were we? I hadn’t even thought about that. I wasn’t sure I could do Round Two. “I don’t know.”

She took the plates I handed her after rinsing them off. A moment passed. “What is going on between you two? And don’t tell me you don’t know. Last time we were chatting about your relationship status, he wasn’t in the picture, and now he is.”

I opened my mouth.

Mom went on. “And I know your brother was giving you a hard time.” She twisted at the waist, looking me straight in the eye. “But, honey, everyone knows you’ve been in lov—”

“We’re dating,” I cut her off before she could finish. “Okay? I guess that’s what we’re doing. It’s nothing serious. Okay? I’m not fifteen anymore.”

She arched a brow.

And I wasn’t drawing sketches of him on my wall. I waspaintinghis face now. Ugh. Walking away from Mom, I snatched up the rest of the silverware and separated the pieces into their cubbies.

“Honey.” Mom touched my arm. “I’m worried about you.”

Straightening, I leaned against the sink and kept my voice low. “Because of Reece?”

She smiled, but it was a pang to the chest, because it was so sad. “Yes. Because I know you’ve cared strongly for him for years, and he’s here, with you. That boy is here, and you’re acting like it’s nothing?”

“Mom—”

A hand came up, silencing me. “And you still won’t try this museum thing? Now, on top of it, there’s some man breaking into your apartment? That has nothing to do with the first two things and it has nothing to do with what I’m about to say to you now. It’s time to have a come-to-Jesus conversation.”

Oh no.

“Just because Charlie is stuck to that bed doesn’t mean you don’t get to live your life to the fullest.”

I drew back as if she’d slapped me. “What?”

“Honey, your father and I know you are carrying a lot of guilt and that you—”

“Roxy?” Reece came into the kitchen, my father and brother right behind him. By the murderous look on all three of their faces, my heart immediately sank.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“We need to go back to your place,” he said, and as he walked toward me, his eyes never left my face. “Your apartment was broken into.”

Chapter 21

On the way back to my apartment I was in a state of suspended disbelief. We’d just been there a few hours ago. How could someone break in by nightfall? Well, it didn’t take a long period of time to do so, but still. I just couldn’t believe it, especially after what had just happened.

Dad and my brother followed us, and when we arrived, there was a police cruiser in front of the Victorian. So was a familiar mustang—cherry red.

“Roxy!” Reece shouted as he coasted into park.

But I’d already had the truck door open and sprung out of the truck, his curse haunting my steps as I entered the courtyard of the Victorian. I caught a glimpse of Kip standing on the porch, along with James’s fiancée, but I was focused on one person.

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