Page 13 of The Fall

Rose’s eyes widened. “I wish I were, too,” she said, shooting a mock-filled look at Dallas. “Anyway, you are a little old for me, but you’ll do.”

“Rose!” Dallas said, closing her book and standing up, ready to physically remove her sister from the room.

“Dallas,” I reasoned, amused as Rose took a seat next to me, laying down the rules. “No kissing. I’m not that type of girl,” she squeaked as she eyed me blatantly, egging her sister on. Dallas groaned, and Rose winked back at me secretly. I knew she wasn’t a kid with a crush. She was a kid with an agenda whose sole purpose was to irritate her sister. I liked her right away.

“Oh, my gawd,” Dallas muttered, burying her head in her hands. I stifled my laugh as I entertained Rose and watched Dallas. It was clear her ploy was working. Dallas finally put her foot down, throwing one after the other of what had to be a dozen pillows on her bed, and Rose flew out the door, looking back at me with a ‘Thank you.’

I chuckled as I watched her go. “She is something else,” I said, looking back at Dallas, who had shut her door and now sat beside me with kaleidoscope eyes. She leaned in close to me and whispered, “So, am I weird in a good way or a bad way?” She was flirting, or what I assumed was her way of flirting.

It had been three months since we had started hanging out, and today was the day she decided to be brave.

No, Dallas. Oh, shit.

I froze, gripping the edge of her bed, wondering when her dad would burst through the door with some lame excuse. He seemed nice enough when I met him, but at the end of his kind greeting, there was a sort of warning in his eyes. I knew that look well, and I’d ignored it for years with other dads.

Not this time.

I wasn’t sure if I was feeling it more out of fear or my own resolve. She was wearing a turtleneck sweater surrounded by a sea of pillows she claimed were a necessary comfort. That was about as safe as she could get. I laughed a little as Dallas leaned in further, clearly not having a clue what she was doing. She took offense, her face falling, and I immediately felt terrible. I entertained the idea of being her first kiss, then had a sinking feeling I might not be.

A sharp knock on her door made us both jump.

“Dinner in ten, angel,” her dad barked.

“Okay, Daddy,” she said hurriedly, staring straight at me. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from embarrassment. I sat stunned at her beauty. Every once in a while, I would catch a glimpse of her as an older woman, and it would take my breath away.

Kind of like at that moment. I had to get out of there.

“Dallas, I need to go,” I said, standing up.

“You won’t stay for dinner?” she asked, completely deflated.

Dean, you’re such an asshole.

“I can’t. See you later, okay?” I excused myself, cramming my books in my backpack, furious with myself. Who studied like this anymore, anyway? I had carelessly agreed to come to her home, meet her family, and be alone where she slept. I hadn’t thought it would be hard to stare into those sea-glass green eyes or admire her perfect, pink pouty lips.

I was in my own personal Lolita hell. How had I gotten here?

Dallas

Now

I walked into Josh’s apartment, the smell of his cooking invading my senses. He was one of the finest chefs in Dallas and was constantly in his kitchen honing his craft. I rounded the counter to watch him work and saw him smile though he didn’t turn his head in my direction as he kept himself busy with his task.

“Baby, if I look at you, I’ll have you naked and burn dinner. Just do us both a favor and pour some wine.”

I smiled and shook my head. “Not a chance of getting me naked anytime soon. You gave me dirty dick disease,” I said in a huff, uncorking a bottle of red we had shared a few nights previous. He quirked an eyebrow as he looked at me, and I gave him the stink eye as I poured us each a glass before taking a sip of mine.

“Okay, my curiosity is piqued,” he said, chuckling as he took a glass from me, walking quickly back to the stove.

“A bladder infection, so your penis and I are now at odds,” I stated, taking a long sip of wine in celebration that I still had my freedom.

“Sorry, babe,” he said, eyeing me as he circled his pot with a spoon, carefully folding cheese into his sauce.

“I’ll let you make it up to me with chocolate mousse,” I said in a bratty tone, taking in more wine with a moan.

“Already chilling in the fridge,” he said, smiling at me. I watched him cook a late meal for the two of us and admired his gorgeous body and how he glided across the kitchen with expert skill. I should want to move in with him. Josh had been nothing but good to me in our time together. We laughed a lot and had good sex. We were exactly what a budding couple should be. I slumped in my chair, thinking of the wind that had come and knocked the breath out of me today, making Josh seem like…less.

“I’m having dinner with an old college friend tomorrow,” I said plainly.

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