Page 102 of Sometimes You Fall

The beep of the scanner is the only sound for a few minutes until Astrid breaks our silence, releasing me from her embrace. “I don’t want to upset you again, but I have to ask you one more thing.”

“All right.”

“Did you tell my brother about Andrew? Like…all of it?”

I nod. “Yes. He knows everything now.”

“And how did he react?”

I think about that night at the pizza parlor, how Grady actively listened as I told him my story, and the words he said to me once I revealed the whole reason and circumstances surrounding my return to Carrington Cove.

“You’re exactly the mother Chase needs, and I couldn’t ask for a better mother of my child. You’re fucking amazing.”

“He told me I am strong and brave. That I am a good mom….”

Astrid beams with pride for her brother. “Sounds like he’s a smarter man than I thought.”

I take a few steps before something I’ve been thinking about comes out. “How come as women and mothers we constantly feel inadequate? Like our life choices have stronger consequences because wehave others that rely on us so much? That one wrong move can scar our kids, our partners, or ourselves for life?”

Astrid hums. “I often wonder that myself. But I also know what a blessing it is to be given the responsibility of being a mother.” She scans the store before turning to face me. “The fact that you care so much is a testament not just to the woman and mother you are, Scottie, but to the one you’re continually growing into. No one is perfect, but part of life is learning and growing from our imperfections. It took me a long time to accept that.”

“I feel like I should have things figured out by now. Like, I’m old enough to know better, and do better. You know?”

She reaches forward and places her hand on my shoulder. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last year, it’s that everybody grows differently, and I think our environment has a lot to do with that. Carrington Cove might just be the climate you needed to break through the ground you’ve been buried under, the shield you’ve been using to protect yourself. This baby girl is already so loved, so wanted. And Grady clearly wants you too. I’d say, that’s already a promising start to a new journey this time around.”

Smiling, I blink away my tears. “Thank you.”

“Anytime. Take this one day at a time, okay? Let the people here love you, protect you, and help you through this new, exciting phase of your life. And remember, sometimes you have to fall to learn how to pick yourself back up and do things differently. You just might find it’s even better the second time around.”

***

“God, right there.” The water cascades down my back as Grady keeps fucking me from behind in the shower.

Chase spent the night at Jeremy’s house, one of the boys on the team, so naturally, Grady and I decided to take advantage of not having him here. Although, before my son left, I told him that if I got a call from the cops tonight, I’d take him to juvenile hall myself.

“I wish you could see yourself right now, Scottie,” Grady growls in my ear, thrusting harder as he wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to his chest. “So fucking beautiful, so perfect, taking my cock like it was made for you, sucking me in and milking me.”

My moans echo off the shower walls as Grady’s other hand travels over my stomach and down to my clit, rubbing soft circles around the bundle of nerves, helping me get to the finish line faster.

“You have no idea what you do to me, how hard you fucking make me,” he says, lining his lips up to my ear before biting down on the skin of my neck as my heart twists in my chest at those words.

“Grady…”

“Come on my cock, Scottie. Shatter for me.” And that’s all he needs to say before I splinter, shaking as I fight to keep standing. Grady keeps thrusting, letting me fall forward as I brace myself on the shower wall and he fucks me hard and deep, chasing his own release.

“Jesus fuck,” he groans before he stills and lets out a heavy sigh.

“So good,” I mumble as he spins me around and pulls me close to his chest—well, as close as I can get due to the growing belly between us.

Our daughter kicks me hard in the ribs, making me wince.

“You okay?” he asks, brushing my wet hair from my face as the water continues to fall down against his back.

“Yeah. The baby just kicked me. I don’t think she liked being rattled around.”

Grady plants a chaste kiss on my lips. “Well, let’s finish getting cleaned up then so you can relax. Lord knows it’s been a long week, and this next week will be even busier.”

“Are you ready for the season to end?” I ask him as he slathers my body with soap and runs his hands all over my skin. I just came, but the feel of his hands on me is making me want to fuck him again.

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