Page 38 of Even if You Fall

Mom still jokingly saidhe’ll learnas if she truly thought he might.

“Well, that’s something,” Mom conceded as she finally turned for the plates. “I just thought you loved teaching.”

I didn’t even let myself think the wordsI dobecause I knew I wouldn’t be able to continue lying to them the way I needed to.

Especially when my mom handed me a plate laden with food and casually said, “If you ask me, I think you still do. You just got confused in your feelings because that relationship you were so secretive of came to an end.”

“Honey,” my dad said in warning.

“This is why people shouldn’t be allowed to make big life decisions when they’re hurting,” she continued, ignoring when my dad repeated the warning a little firmer than before.

Even though my stomach had dropped at the mention of Owen, I kept my smile soft and with just the right amount of teasing when I asked, “Did I tell you Bruiser ended up on my porch this morning?” as I turned to grab salad and bread, easily redirecting the conversation to one my parents could neverresist, since watching my neighbor chase his giant mastiff all around the street was usually the highlight of my dull week.

“Oh, that sweet baby,” my mom said on a light laugh. “Was your neighbor naked again?”

“Mom!” I choked out the word and looked from my dad to her, taking in their expectant expressions. “He usually has boxers on; he isn’t naked.” I hesitated before admitting, “He was pulling a shirt on as he ran this time...to go with his boxers.”

I felt my shoulders relax when my parents’ laughter spiraled into aremember whenabout some story I didn’t bother paying attention to. I couldn’t when I was so focused on keeping my breathing steady, even though the loosening of my chest begged me to sigh with relief. I couldn’t when I was grateful I’d escaped my mom’s questions about my leaving the school and my relationship with Owen.

Honestly, I was surprised my mom had brought up the latter at all. Before tonight, I’d been sure they’d forgotten aboutChloe’s most-likely-fake-boyfriend. Not that I would’ve blamed them. By the time I’d finally told my parents I was seeing someone, months into my relationship with Owen, they’d been thrilled. A little too thrilled. I’d actually been slightly offended to find out my parents had worried I’d never meet anyone or marry.

Then again, self-sabotaging, hermit-y ways, and all that.

But even though Owen had always wanted to make sure no one in theschool districtfound out, I think the part of me that had always been chilled to the point of nausea had known our relationship wasn’t something that should be shared.

That it was wrong.

So, I’d never even told my parents his name. With every question they’d peppered me with, I’d given the smallest details possible and evaded nearly everything else, sayingI’m notready. By the end, it’d been obvious they’d thought I was making the entire thing up.

And when the end did come, true to form, I’d done everything to keep my pain from them until I’d been able to flippantly mention we were over as if I wasn’t bothered by it.

They’d simplyhummedin acceptance before continuing with the same spaghetti and meatballs we were about to eat.

But now my mom was bringing up the relationship and connecting it to my leaving teaching. She was sure I’d beenhurting. And I knew from exhausting and crushing experience that wasn’t something my parents could handle, so I’d do anything to keep us from going down that road.

Sinking into my designated chair at the dining room table, I glanced at the place setting beside me that Mom always insisted on having, even though no one had filled it for nearly twenty years, then reinforced my smile as my parents followed me into the room. Mom was holding her signature glass of red wine; my dad was holding both their plates.

“Let’s eat,” he said with an appreciative groan as they took their chairs opposite me, where they would studiously avoid looking at me and the empty chair beside me for the entirety of the meal.

“Nerd.”

I lowered my book and smiled at Hudson as he sauntered into the office the next morning. Just as Adam caught the door before it could shut and pushed his way inside, Hudson added, “Thanks for last night,” in a way that heavily implied something happened, when absolutelynothinghad.

My mouth popped open as golden eyes zeroed in on the heat racing into my cheeks. But the laughable denials and explanations gathered all at once and far too quickly, choking me as I worried over what Adam was making of Hudson’s words.

Not that it should matter. He couldn’t possibly hate me more than he already did, and I needed to get over this ridiculous crush anyway.

But it did . . .

Before I could manage even a sound, Hudson glanced at my shirt, then glanced to the side as if knowing Adam was watching the entire thing go down. A wicked smirk stole across his face as he murmured, “Nice shirt,” and left me to deal with Adam.

“You had dinner with Gray last night?” he asked before I could begin to untangle my jumbled thoughts.

A startled laugh forced from my lungs as I wondered how Adam had even found out about the food, or why Hudson would’ve wanted him—or any of them—to think last night was more than it was.

“What? No,” I finally managed to choke out. “I mean, I gave him food, but it wasn’t like that. I just know y’all have someone watching the house. But don’t worry,” I hurried to add when Adam’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, “I haven’t told Lainey, and I won’t. Whatever reason Asher has for putting one of y’all there, I’m sure it’s for her best interest.”

I was also exceedingly thankful for it, considering I hadn’t been sleeping well ever since I’d woken up to the fake officer pounding on my door. Knowing one of the Shadow members had been watching the house had at least returned the sense of security that had been stolen from me that night.

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