Page 104 of Even if You Fall

As if sensing I was studying her, Chloe glanced at me, her chest pitching with a hushed laugh when she realized I was actually considering Ada’s words. “Don’t even think about it,” she warned as her smile grew.

“Not the craziest idea,” I whispered, the words bordering on a tease as I grabbed her waist, pulling her closer.

She halfheartedly pushed against my chest as she willingly fell into my arms. “Yes, it is.”

“But it’d be a great story to tell our kids one day.”

At that, her head tipped back as a stunning, genuine laugh poured free. “You’re ridiculous,” she breathed.

I let myself take in the sound of that laugh and this moment before playfully whispering, “This the real you, Bubbles?” since her mask was clearly nowhere to be seen.

Her smile shifted into something softer, more intimate. “What do you think?” she asked just as quietly, her voice a gentle tease.

“IknowI still like the real you.” Dropping my head closer, I said, “Now about marrying me...”

Another laugh eased from her lungs as she weakly pushed me away. “Let me fall in love with you first.”

The way my soul reacted to her saying that—to the hope that one day this womanwould. My grip on her tightened as my pulse raced this relentless beat in my veins. “Deal.”

“Unexpected,” Ada muttered in surprise, drawing my focus back to her in time to see her look away from Chloe and me. “Now, where am I sleeping?” she asked as if she hadn’t just dropped into our suite in Aruba like she’d been invited all along and put insane thoughts in our heads.

An edgy sound left Briggs as he gestured toward the girls’ room. “The girls are sleeping in there. You can take the king.” He jerked his chin in the direction of the other room. “I need to get mine and Kaia’s stuff out of there.”

“Just yours,” Ada said offhandedly as she started that way with Kaia in her arms. “I’ve got Little Miss.”

“On that note,” Chloe began when Briggs and Lainey followed them, drawing out the words, “I should go to sleep before you get any more wild ideas.”

“Told you,” I muttered as I stole a quick kiss, “it isn’t the craziest idea.”

Her shoulders shook as she placed her hands on my chest, gripping my shirt and coming back for another kiss that was longer. Slower. One that had me rethinking our sleeping arrangements before she was practically dancing away and sending me a mischievous look.

“Private jets, suites in foreign countries, and you trying to get me to elope...” She scrunched up her face adorably as she backed away toward the room she was sharing with Lainey. “How will I ever go back to reality after this?”

I didn’t bother telling her I’d never been on a private jet in my life before last weekend, or that Briggs had never once taken a vacation before all this. Because when these trips were over, and we went back to our normal lives, I’d still have her.

Coconut and vanilla.

It was the first thing I registered before I felt the unruly pounding of my heart and the fear crawling through my veins and gripping at my neck. Just as I realized how tense my body was, I felthers. Wrapped up in my arms. One hand pressed to my strained chest, the other grasping my trembling arm like she was trying to comfortme.

“You’re okay,” she breathed just before lips passed across my forehead.

And for just a moment, I let myself stay trapped in my loathing of this darkness that haunted me—of what I might’ve done.

As if knowing that I was trying not to drown in the worry ofwhat ifs, a forehead pressed to mine next before the whispered promise, “I’mokay,” passed over my lips.

I tightened my grip on her in response but didn’t respond. Not just yet.

I waited as I thought through what I could remember of the flashbacks—not much—and if I could remember getting in here. As always, I couldn’t. But somehow, I had, and I should’ve known I would because Chloe was here.

Forcing my eyes open, I found hazel eyes waiting for me. Soft, open, and full of so much understanding and love. Bringing me right back to the last time I’d woken up to this, months ago.

Every night of our trip to Aruba, I’d had an episode.

I’d been sure after the first night, Briggs would’ve demanded I get a separate room to keep Kaia safe. Instead, he’d just studied me for a while before suggesting,“Maybe you should just share a bed with Chloe,”since that’s where I’d woken up. Gripping her to me like, even in sleep, I’d been afraid she’d be taken from me.

I hadn’t taken his advice.

But the next morning and the next and the next, I’d woken in her bed. Clinging to her and terrified that I’d hurt her or everyone else around me.

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