Page 46 of Free to Fall

I wince at Kalie’s ill-advised choice of words. Spilling my guts is the very last thing I want to happen to anyone involved—my family, the Hudson agents keeping a safe distance, but especially Liam and Bailey.

My brother squeezes my hand. There are some things that have always just remained between us despite the enormous emotional connection our whole family has. I know he won’t share what I’ve told him with anyone, even our father. I don’t even have to ask. Instead, he tugs my hair before drawling, “She’s a hard nut to crack, Kalie. You know that. We’re going to need Gracie in order to break her at lunch.”

I roll my eyes. “You both are ridiculous. There’s nothing to talk about.”

“He’s gorgeous and single. Of course we’re going to talk about this,” Kalie decrees.

Jon winces before asking me, “Will it harm my hearing permanently if I pour bleach down my ears?”

I pat his hand before standing. “Don’t worry. It won’t be anything worse than Uncle Phil versus Uncle Keene at a family dinner.”

He perks up before he gets to his feet behind me. “Oh? Well, if that’s the case, count me in.”

I shoot him a disdainful look. “There’s food involved. I figured you were along for the ride anyway.”

He pats his flat stomach. “True.”

We walk a few blocks to meet Grace at Bodega Taco Bar, where she’s holding our table. For the rest of the afternoon, we stuff our faces as I try to deflect questions about whether I find Liam Payne attractive while answering more serious ones about Bailey’s progress. It isn’t until Jon kisses the top of my head and whispers, “I think you’re going to get everything you need out of this,” that I feel something inside me relax.

Something settles inside me. Whether it’s the belief in my family, a blessing from Karimat, or my own sixth sense, I just feel like everything’s going to be all right. It just might not be comfortable for a while. After all, I still have to face Liam Payne’s ridiculously good looks when I walk into his home to care for his daughter.

Chapter

Twenty-One

No matter where I turn or what I do, I can’t get my mind off Laura.

I spent far too long over my weekend wondering who the man was with her when Bailey and I spotted them in downtown Darien. They were so openly affectionate with one another that Bailey even pointed it out. “Look, Daddy! Look! It’s Laura and her boyfriend!”

It took all my mental fortitude not to whip my car off the side of the road, park it, and intrude. It was only the blare of the horn behind me to get moving that forced my hand. Still, I crawled as slowly as I could through the traffic filled village of Darien. As I made a right-hand turn, I observed the natural way her body curved into his on the bench outside the sports store. I should have made up an excuse to rearrange our errands for the day and driven us right out of town.

I didn’t.

Fortunately, by the time I found a coveted parking spot, they’d disappeared. The pervasive relief I felt was as disturbing as it was short-lived.

As I pushed Bailey into the Bodega Taco Bar, masking my irritation became next to impossible when the same man crowded her against the back of the booth as he attempted to drip queso into her waiting mouth.

Open.

Tongue peeking out against her full lower lip.

Bailey and I sat not too far from them—just far enough to catch glances at the couple but too far away to hear anything except the good time they were sharing with two other women—one of whom I immediately recognized as Keene’s daughter, Kalie.

Even amid eating some of the best tacos around and enjoying my time with Bailey, I couldn’t get Laura’s face out of my mind. Somehow, her laughter rose above the din of the crowd. I intuitively knew each and every time she laid her hand against her man’s arm, chest, cheek, and I wished it was me.

It made no sense to my head.

Then I rationalized it. It was the amount of time Laura spent with Bailey every day. We’re just becoming attached to one another. Maybe it was some misplaced sort of gratitude for the confidence my daughter was exhibiting. Then I felt the gut kick when Laura tipped her head back and a bellowing laugh escaped at the antics of her cousin and the other woman as they tried to replicate the couple’s dripping cheese routine.

All the sense in the world flew out the window when my gut churned with jealousy.

What wouldn’t I give to be the man who made her laugh like that all the time? The thought pops into my mind before I can stop it. Even as it did, the man whose face I couldn’t see placed a tortilla chip in her mouth. Chewing, she beamed up at him as if his presence illuminated all the dark corners in her soul.

My entire body was strung tight, and I hardly recall eating before ushering Bailey out for the rest of our father/daughter day. Later, after she was carefully drawing at the table, I stood at the window overlooking my backyard. Why do I care if the good doctor is seeing someone? She’s young and beautiful; it’s to be expected.

My mind conjures up an image of Bailey’s birth mother bantering with other agents when we were together on assignment. My stomach muscles unclench at the reasonable explanation. That moment was just a flashback, nothing more.

After all, what else could it be?

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