Page 78 of Even if You Fall

He glanced at his watch. “Need to start heading back to the airport in a couple hours.”

“Let’s go tell her,” I said before I could think too much on if I’d be going with them, then gestured for him to leave the duffel where it was.

But no sooner had we left the entryway than I stopped all over again, because she was standing right there, leaning against the back of the couch. Mask on full blast as she smiled at Rush.

My stomach dropped as I thought back through all we’d said and wondered what she might’ve heard.

“Aruba for real this time?” she asked as her gaze bounced to mine, then pointed over her shoulder. “Your mom’s already starting on lunch since we’re not leaving just yet.”

“I told you to stay near my dad or Sam.”

“Technically, I did. Your dad just left with your mom.”

But she was standing right there. Within hearing distance and nowhere near where I’d left her.

As if sensing my thoughts, she explained, “Cameron’s voice is very distinct and fairly loud.” She sent a teasing grin his way that had that jealousy trying to sneak back in, even though I was fully awarethisChloe wasn’t real. “I told your family who it was. Your parents and I figured he was safe. So,” she said with an excited clap, “we’re going to Aruba?”

“You’regoing to Aruba.” The words were out before I knew I was thinking them, and I wanted to take them back the instant Chloe’s mask flickered. Just enough for me to see the sting of pain and confusion and worry.

But then it was back in place as she gave a little nod, her shoulders bouncing in feigned anticipation as she took a step toward us. “I’ll go pack then.”

Without another look my way, she hurried past us and set off down the hallway, toward my old room.

Once she was gone, Rush asked, “You gonna go fix that?” When I just stood there, torn between going after Chloe and knowing I needed to let her go, he sighed. “I have a feeling you’re gonna regret it if you don’t.”

Ididn’t make it through the introductions between Rush and my family before I broke. Muttering an offhanded, “Sorry,” I stalked out of the kitchen area and through the house. My entire body felt restless with the need to get to Chloe, all while every rational part of me knew I should turn around and rejoin my family—knew I should let this go before it could get worse.

Butrationaldidn’t hold as much weight as it used to. It hadn’t ever since a threat of a girl had landed on my radar and started tripping up my thoughts and stealing my focus until all I thought about—all Iwanted—was her.

So, I knew if I went into that bedroom now, there would be no going back from this. Not again. I knew I’d have to have hard conversations with her and tell her things I didn’t want her knowing. I knew I’d have to find a way to protect her from the demons that haunted me. Yet when I reached the door, I didn’t even hesitate before opening it.

“We don’t have to do this,” Chloe said as soon as I set foot inside. Without looking at me, she placed a folded item of clothing into her suitcase where it rested on the bed, next to my folded hoodie, and added, “I get it.”

“Whatever you think youget?—”

“You wanted to know what I was hiding,” she said over me as she glanced my way, giving me all her pain and humiliation and sadness. “You got me to tell you. Congratulations. Well done.”

“That isn’t what happened,” I told her as I continued toward her much more cautiously than I’d stormed into the room.

A sharp, bitter laugh left her as she returned to her suitcase.

“Chloe—”

“No, Iknew,” she cried out, her hands flexing against the lip of her suitcase in such a blatant tell that she was uncomfortable—that I’d hurt her. When her head snapped my way again, her eyes were glassy. “I knew it was an act, and I still—” Her head shook fiercely. “Even if someone were to fall for my lie, at least they would still be falling formebecause it’s who I am. You...you’re just a lie.”

“I didn’t lie to you,” I told her honestly as I stopped just feet away. “I didn’t trick you into telling me anything. I meant everything I said to you.”

“Yet you lookedhorrifiedwhen I suggested we share a bed,” she argued, then held up a hand as if begging me not to speak. “Justshare itso you wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor. Then the second you got the information you’ve been demanding for weeks, you pulled away, and suddenly Cameron’s here to take me to Aruba—which I thought I wasn’t supposed to go to—and you made it very clear you didn’t plan on coming with us.”

“You done?”

She floundered for a second, like she was trying to find any other reason to be furious with me, but I didn’t let her think for long.

I reached for her, grabbing around her waist and hauling her against me as I crushed my mouth to hers.

A sound of protest rose in her throat, but just when I thought she was placing a hand against my chest to push me away, shegrasped my shirt instead. Pulling me closer as her other hand wound into my hair and gripped tight. And those simple yet significant actions meant everything and had me falling deeper into the kiss and her.

Losing myself to the way she kissed me without reservation, even after everything. To the way nothing in the world mattered more than her and that moment. Losing myself to the way kissing Chloe Whitlock felt like a rush of oxygen when everyone else had felt like a temporary escape from my problems.

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