Page 59 of Falling

“You fucking asshole,” Rand sneers. “Brontë!”

“What? I was on a phone call, Rand.” She stops in the doorway to take in the drama.

“My best friend has been shagging my sister,” he spits out. “When did this start?”

“Santa Fe,” Geneva spits back. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

“Damn it, you couldn’t keep it in your pants just a little while longer.” I watch in shock as he pulls out his wallet. He counts out one-hundred-dollar bills. Brontë snatches them out of his hand.

“Nice doing business with you,” she says to her husband. “I told you they’d never make it. Now, I’ve got a prospect for you on hold.”

“I’m coming.” He turns to face me. “Dinner’s on you tonight.”

“Wait.” I stop him before he can leave. “Why are you not punching me in the face like you promised to do?”

“I still might, but I also see life a little differently now. There’s nothing I want more than for my sister and my best friend to be happy. If they have to find that in each other, so be it. We can talk about it later, but we need the business that phone call promises. This will have to wait.” He walks out of the room, leaving us in a state of confusion.

“What the hell was that?” Geneva asks.

“I have no idea.”

twenty-two

GENEVA

“To us forhaving the balls to forge our own path in life,” Rand says, raising his glass of champagne. We clink glasses and take a sip. I’m not really a champagne person, but tonight feels like there’s a lot to celebrate.

I can’t believe how chill my brother’s being about Peter and me. He even told Peter he was kidding when he told him he had to pick up the tab.

“I guess I don’t understand what you’ve done with my brother,” I say, only half in jest.

He sighs, then shakes his head. I look at Peter, sitting between us. He looks as worried as I feel. Will he break up with me if Rand demands it? He says he won’t, but how do I really know?

“I’m going to warn you,” Peter says. “There’s nothing you can say that changes how I feel about Geneva. I understand why you made me swear to stay away from her. But I’m not the same man I was then.”

I slide my hand into his under the table, and he squeezes it. We wait to see what Rand will say. It won’t change how we feel about each other, but I don’t want it to ruin a friendship either.

“Here’s the deal,” Rand begins. “I’m not the same man I was then either. The best thing I’ve ever done was follow what my heart was telling me.” Brontë leans over to kiss him on the cheek. I agree, it was the best thing he’s ever done.

“I’ve watched you circling each other for a long time. Maybe even before you realized it yourselves. At the time, all I could see was how badly it could turn out for us if you got together and then broke up. It wasn’t until I fell in love that I could step back and consider what would happen if you did fall in love.

“Geneva, all I’ve ever wanted was for you to be safe and happy. The only man other than me I’ve ever trusted you with was Peter. Even knowing he wanted you, I knew he’d never hurt you. He’ll never let anything bad happen to you.” His brows draw together as he cocks his head at us. “Although after hearing your road trip stories, I’m starting to wonder.”

“None of it was Peter’s fault,” I say.

“I know that, I’m just teasing you. What I’m trying to say is, who am I to stand in the way of your happiness? If you find it with the best man I’ve ever known, then I guess we all win.”

“I appreciate that, brother,” Peter says.

“Make no mistake though,” Rand adds. “You do anything to hurt her, and I will set your balls on fire.”

“Fair enough.”

“And with that, we’re going to head home so the babysitter can do the same.” Brontë stands and pulls Rand to his feet. Peter and I stand to say goodbye.

“Stay as long as you like,” Rand adds. “The bill has been left open, so have dessert.”

“We’re so glad y’all are here,” Brontë says, pulling Peter into a hug first and then me. “I can’t wait for us to have some time to get to know each other even better.” She turns me loose to take Rand’s hand. With a wave, they leave the restaurant.

---