Page 74 of Imperfectly Perfect

“Excuse us a minute.” Athena turned on her toes and walked straight into her office.

Fallon tossed a look over her shoulder at Savannah, one full of worry and pity, but she said nothing as she followed Athena. Being tossed in the waves felt like an accurate description of what she was experiencing right now, and she had no idea where she was going to land—a sunny beach or the craggy rocks.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on between you and Savannah yet?”

“Uh…” Fallon’s voice vanished in an instant. Her heart thundered so loud that she couldn’t control it. “There’s nothing going on between us.”

Athena pursed her lips and crossed her arms. She widened her stance, and she wasn’t about to back down. Fallon had seen that look before. She’d been on the receiving end of it before, although it’d been awhile since that happened. “Do me the dignity of not lying to me.”

Fallon winced. “I don’t know what’s going on between us.”

“That’s better.” Athena moved to her desk and leaned against the edge of it. “Monti wasn’t detailed. In fact, she took great pains to avoid any information about the two of you, but I know something happened at Saylor’s birthday party.”

“Thank God you weren’t there.” Fallon winced again. She sounded like an absolute jerk. Athena rarely came to family events, and definitely not parties. She wasn’t a crowd person if she could avoid it.

“What happened?”

“Savannah showed up. She’s Saylor’s boss.”

Athena hummed, her eyes fluttering shut as she shook her head. “Nothing ever comes without complications.”

“Now you sound like Monti.”

“She’s pretty smart.” Athena lifted her shoulder and dropped it. “It might help you to take some of her advice.”

“She’s nosy.”

“She cares about you and what happens to you. She doesn’t want to see you hurt.” Athena bit her lip before popping it from her teeth. “I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Fallon stilled. Athena had never spoken to her like that before. She’d never said that she cared about what happened to Fallon so directly. Or anyone else besides her own family for that matter.

“So what’s going on?” Athena asked, her voice lowering.

“I don’t know. I thought maybe something more could be there, but then some things happened, and I don’t know where we stand with each other.” Fallon ran her fingers through her hair. She was ready to collapse. She needed someone to wrap her in a hug and just hold her, and she wanted that to be Savannah. But Savannah was the one who was causing her so much distress.

“Then why don’t you go find out.” Athena nodded toward the door. “I need you to not be so distracted when you come to work tomorrow.”

That’s what this was about. Work. Athena didn’t care about Fallon because they were practically sisters-in-law. She cared because Fallon hadn’t been doing a good job at work that week.

“Yes, Ms. Pruitt.” Fallon nodded. She didn’t wait as she left the room and found Savannah standing awkwardly at her desk. “Let’s go.”

“To MILF Wine?”

Fallon didn’t answer as she grabbed her purse and walked straight toward the door. She waited until Savannah followed her out and then locked the door behind her.

“You’re making me nervous,” Savannah muttered.

“Yeah, me too.” Fallon snagged Savannah by the arm and pulled her in close. She stared into Savannah’s bright brown eyes. “MILF Wine.” The desire to lean in and press their mouths together was just as strong as the first time they’d stood like this in the hallway. But this time, Fallon knew exactly what it would feel like, what Savannah would taste like, how they’d move together.

“You’re going to have to stop looking at me like that if you want to get there.”

Fallon cleared her throat and stepped back. She gritted her teeth to keep herself from saying anything stupid. Jabbing the elevator button, Fallon waited in silence. She couldn’t screw this up. It would affect so much in her life. Not just her personal life, but her work life and her family life—the family she was just beginning to get back.

They reached the parking garage, and Savannah pulled on Fallon’s hand to stop her forward motion. “Wait a minute.”

“For what?” Fallon was about to keep walking. If she could have just a few more minutes to avoid, then she would take them. Even if she knew she shouldn’t.

Savannah reached up, cupping Fallon’s cheek. She moved up on her toes and pressed their lips together. Fallon moaned. Her heart fluttered; her body tingled. Fallon leaned into Savannah’s touch, her eyes closing as she parted her lips. She could so easily fall into Savannah every day if she let herself. And a part of her wanted to do that. A part of her wanted to fall into Savannah’s arms, let Savannah hold her and care for her, and never leave.

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