Page 48 of The Fall

He clears his throat. “Anyway, thanks for all your hard work on this, babe. What else do you need before we eat?”

The rest of us echo his thanks. Cam stands up, but Tess points to her.

“No, sit back down. Literally all I have left to do is to pick up the bowl of rolls and bring them in here. Everyone, start eating while it’s still hot, please.”

Sergei and I each pick up a dish and start passing them. Everyone quiets as we start filling our plates. While I wait for a dish to be passed my way, I watch Cam. She’s helping Tate make his plate, trying to convince him there’s nothing but “bread and spices” in the stuffing.

She’s so much more than just beautiful. I want to be worthy of her. I don’t even know if I can trust myself to know if I deserve to be the man in her life, but I’ll find a way to figure it out.

I have to.

Cam givesme a skeptical look from the passenger seat of my Bronco. “Has no one mentioned to you that the day after Thanksgiving is literally the busiest shopping day of the year?”

“I’ve heard that.” I smile over at her, glancing in the rearview mirror to see the boys in the back seat. “But with our schedules, today works.”

“True. So tell me more about your friend we’re shopping for.”

“Arthur’s eighty-two. He likes chess and crosswords. He lives in a nursing home.”

“Hmm.” She considers. “Maybe a nice soft blanket. Oh—does he have an iPad?”

“He doesn’t, and that’s a great idea because he says the cable is always out at the nursing home. How about a big iPad with all the apps prepaid and a blanket?”

She grins at me. “That was easy. We can look for the blanket at Home Goods. I need to find a picture frame, too, for one of my gifts to Tess.”

I wasn’t sure if she’d say yes when I asked her and the boys to go shopping with me today, but she agreed immediately. This is a chance for me to show her I want to be in the boys’ lives, too.

“Hey, you guys like hot chocolate?” I ask.

“Are we getting hot chocolate?” Tate’s already lit up with excitement. “I want lots of marshmallows in mine.”

“They love hot chocolate,” Cam says.

“Great. We have a stop to make first and then we’ll get some hot chocolate. We’ll go to a place that has really good hot pretzels, too, if anyone wants a snack.”

“Rowan, you can sleep in my room if you want,” Sam offers. “I have a sleeping bag.”

Tess told them I’d be spending some nights at their house, though she didn’t say why because she didn’t want to scare them. Neither one of them seemed to think it was unusual. They think I’m coming to play with them.

“He’s sleeping on the couch,” Cam says. “You guys still have to do your homework, brush your teeth and get to bed on time.”

“Only on school nights!”

“I mean, you still have to brush your teeth even when it’s not a school night, but not the other things.” She glances at me. “But remember, Rowan might not want to playallthe time.”

I shoot her a wicked grin. I do want to play all the time, but not in the way she means. Her cheeks flush a sexy light-pink shade. It’s going to be hell knowing we’re sleeping in the same house and I have to stay on the couch. But for right now, I know that’s best.

When I pull up in front of Cypress Lane, a furniture store, Cam gives me an excited look.

“Do we get to help you pick out new furniture?”

“Sort of.”

She lowers her brows, puzzled. “New rugs?”

I grin. “Just come in and see.”

Cypress Lane is owned by Abby Campbell, the wife of a Chicago Blaze player, Luca Campbell. It’s a rapidly growing company with a reputation for well-made furniture in modern and traditional styles. I know it’s the perfect place for what I want.

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