Page 36 of The Fall

I hesitate, because I was looking forward to not dealing with the Harrison thing tonight. But I need to at least give him a fair chance.

“Come on,” she continues. “Aren’t you guys meeting up at that McDonald’s by your office so he can get the coffee with the senior discount?”

“You’re the fucking worst.” I can’t keep from smiling. “We’re supposed to meet up at Rocky Mountain Brews, whichisclose to my office.”

“Just go. And have an open mind.”

I glare at her. “Oh, really? Like, don’t assume he’s cheap just because he sent me one rose and Rowan sent two dozen?”

“Don’t forget the Post-It.”

I sigh heavily and get my coat from the back of a kitchen chair. “I really do hate you. When Tate wakes up, try to get him to eat some soup. Don’t let him go crazy on the Sweet Tarts, and tell him I love him and I’ll see him tonight.”

Tess gives me a serious look and nods. “Got it. And as always, the boys can stay the night if needed. I’ll tell them it’s an impromptu sleepover and we’ll come grab some clothes for school tomorrow.”

“No way that’s happening. This is just coffee.”

“But what if Harrison found a sale on condoms?” Her eyes widen and she points at me. “No, no, I’ve got it. He goes to Planned Parenthood so he can snag the free ones.”

“Eat shit and die, Tess. This dating thing is killing me, and you’re like a stand-up comedian testing out jokes.”

She hugs me. “I love you. I know it’s hard, but try to relax. You don’t think you can trust your intuition, but you can.”

“Just because the year of not dating is up, that doesn’t mean Ihaveto date, you know?”

“Right. Only do it if you want to.”

“I’ll see how tonight goes.”

“Good luck.”

I hug her again and leave through the kitchen door that’s attached to my garage. It snowed yesterday and I was too exhausted from being up with Tate to shovel the driveway, so I hit the gas extra hard to back out of my garage.

Snow crunches beneath the tires of my car as I do a mental run-through of what I need to get done at work this afternoon. If I stay focused, I can get through it all before meeting up with Harrison at 5:30 p.m.

By the time I get to the office, lunch hour is over for most everyone and the normal hum of office activity has resumed. I nod at people as I walk by but don’t stop for any conversations, closing my office door behind me.

On my tightened schedule, I don’t have time to think about Rowan. I fell asleep thinking about our text conversation last night and had a dream that he was taking a shower in my bathroom.

I’ll have to pick up on those thoughts later, though. This afternoon, I’m all business.

“Hi, Cam.”Harrison stands up to greet me when I approach his table at the coffee shop.

He’s still wearing the dark suit he probably wore to work today, his face clean-shaven and his smile wide. Harrison is handsome. Most women would get butterflies sitting down across from him.

But what I notice most is his eyes. They didn’t change when he saw me. Every single time since Rowan and I met, when he sees me, his eyes brighten with...happiness? I think it’s happiness. I never really thought about it until realizing that Harrison’s eyes don’t change at all when he sees me.

“Hi, how are you?”

I hang my bag and coat over the back of the chair, scolding myself. Bright eyes don’t mean a lifetime of happiness. They don’t mean stability for me and my boys.

“Can’t complain.” He looks sheepish. “Sorry I couldn’t work this in during the day, it’s a crazy busy week at the office.”

“It’s no problem.”

I sit down and grab a drink menu. “Definitely decaf for me at this hour.”

“Same.” He chuckles lightly. “I’d have to run a few laps around my house later tonight and I still wouldn’t be able to sleep if I had caffeine right now.”

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