Page 55 of Catch Me When I Fall

I nodded. “Of course!”

She clapped her hands and did a little jump. “Yippee!”

Leo and I chatted for a few more minutes before I clocked out for the day and we headed out. He took my hand as we walked to my car and I could feel the eyes of everyone who walked by us. Over the last few weeks, I was the talk of the town, and Sarah introduced me to all the business owners on the strip. Leo was somewhat famous, due to his father’s death and how he took over the business.

“Here, babe. Over here,” Leo said softly, bringing me away from the street so he could walk beside it instead.

My stomach flipped at the thoughtfulness—and at the pet name. “Babe?”

His neck twisted as his eyes went wide for a moment. “I—sorry. It just slipped out,” he stammered as we both came to stop. He put his hand on the back of his neck, a boyish smile toying on his lips. “Shit, I’ve been thinking about you so much, and I just…Sorry.”

I smiled up at him. “Don’t apologize,” I said sweetly, giving his hand a squeeze.

“Yeah?”

I bit the inside of my lip.

Just fucking do it, Carrie. The sooner you do this, the sooner you can get back to normal.

I stepped closer to him, facing him fully now as the sun shined down on us, the town alive with chatter, foot traffic, and cars driving by. The shops were booming with tourists, and the smell of the sea was in the air. Leo’s green eyes softened as he stared down at me.

“Kiss me,” I whispered.

Those sweet green eyes flared as they dropped to my lips. “You sure?

I nodded, putting my free hand on his chest. “Kiss me, Leo. I’ve missed you, too.”

He grinned, letting go of my hand to cup my face, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. His eyes closed, and in slow motion, I watched the man I should want, kiss me. His lips were soft, just like the kiss.

Just give in, dammit.

My eyes closed, and I pressed my lips harder against his. For a moment, he held me there, not moving when I desperately needed him to. I needed to feel something. I needed this kiss to help me forget.

A second later, he pulled back. “We’re going to be late for the museum. Come on.”

I gave him a tight smile, let him take my hand again.

That was the worst kiss in the history of kisses, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. After all, I was trying to find my happy ending.

“Do you think I’m a bad person?” I whispered to Sarah after dinner. We were both standing in kitchen, sipping our glasses of wine, while the boys were in the living room, talking about sports. Dinner had been nothing short of great. Leo picked me up, held my hand on the way here, put his hand on my lower back as we entered the house, and even put his hand on my thigh during dinner.

Yet, there was nothing there.

I’d just finished telling her about how awful that kiss was.

She shook her head. “No, of course not.”

“I just—” I cut myself off and looked back to doorway leading to the living room. When I looked back to my friend, I hit her with it. “For the last year, I’ve been a shell, right?”

She nodded, her face intent. She didn’t know everything and I could never tell her. Right?

What would she think of me? Would she think I was a lunatic?

If I couldn’t tell her, then why was I so desperate to?

Over the last month, Sarah had become a dear friend. After the life I’d lived, I was grateful for one, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort for hiding a part of myself from her, especially after she’s given me so much.

“After I lost Robert, I lost myself,” I told her, looking down into my wine glass. I normally didn’t drink, but after that kiss this afternoon, I needed it. “I moved out here to find myself, and slowly I have been, but I thought…I thought, somewhere along the way I’d find some passion.”

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