Page 75 of Catch Me When I Fall

“Right. I’m into you, and you were into me. Then, something happened. You ended things with me before they even began, and I don’t blame you for that. You weren’t in the right head space. That became clear the second you told me about your husband,” he said gently.

I looked to my feet.

“Carrie, look at me.”

When I did, his eyes were soft. “I respected your wishes. I stepped back and shoved down those feelings. Over the last few months, we’ve gotten close, and I’ve been happy with whatever you wanted to give me.”

“Leo—”

“You inviting me over for dinner tonight changes things,” he said, stepping closer and putting his hands on my shoulders. He searched my eyes. “Are you in the right head space for that?” I opened my mouth, but he cut me off again. “Don’t wanna be jacked around, Carrie. I’ll wait for you. I think I’ve already proven that, but I don’t think I can handle you ending things again. You get what I’m saying?”

“The last thing I want to do is play with your feelings,” I told him.

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

I stepped closer to him, pulling my hands out of my jacket and placing them on his chest. His nostrils flared, but he didn’t step back. “Yes.”

He smiled. “What time do you want me over?”

Chapter 20

Carrie

As I stared at the snow gently falling into my backyard from the kitchen window, my eyes were focused on the shed. The temperatures were dropping quite a bit, and my worry for Tic-Tac increased as the wind howled. A shiver shot down my body, but as I turned to go kick the heat up a few more degrees, the doorbell rang.

My eyes shot to it, my stomach tangling up in nervous knots. Leo was here.

Leo was here—for dinner.

Exhaling, I reached back and let my curls down, shaking them out a bit before double checking the small kitchen table decorated with blue place mats, white napkins, and my cute, girly dishes. Nothing matched, and that was my favorite part. My eyes drifted over to the stove where dinner was simmering slowly, the delicious scent taking over the usual smell of lemon and berries.

When a second knock sounded, I bent my head and whispered, “You’re allowed to be happy. You’re allowed to live your life the way you want it, Carrie. Start living.”

My feet moved then, carrying me through the kitchen straight to the front door. I braced, the anticipation of tonight hanging over my head as I reached for the doorknob, pulling it open to reveal Leo.

His green eyes were filled with excitement, his smile warm in contrast to the heavy snowfall behind him. He’d changed clothes since this afternoon. Dark green pants covered his legs, and underneath his coat, a tan sweater poked through.

“Hi,” I breathed.

Leo’s throat bobbed as his eyes dropped, taking me in. When he met my eyes again, he murmured, “Hi, sweetheart.”

I stepped back, gesturing inside.

He stepped through, and as I shut the door behind him, he made a noise. “Jesus, something smells good.”

I smiled at him, locking the front door.

Lock your doors every night.

The rough voice echoed in my head, but this time, I ignored it, watching Leo shrug off his coat. He turned to me, his coat folded over his arm. “You okay?”

My eyes dropped to his lips. “Leo,” I called softly.

He stepped closer. “Carrie, what is it?”

My eyes lifted, and before I could stop myself, the words escaped. “I want a new first kiss.”

Realization dawned, painting across his features in a smooth stroke. “A new first kiss,” he repeated.

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