Page 146 of Fall Into Me

“I can’t,” I continued, the words tumbling out. “Because there is noagain, Fane.” It was my turn to shake my head in my own helpless gesture. “I never stopped. How you don’t get that isbafflingto me.”

I was waving my hands in panic now. Making the shape of hearts and gesturing between the two of us with something that resembled jazz hands. Finally, I closed the distance. I walked right up to him and pressed my palms on either side of his face.

“I am so in love with you, Fane Mackenzie. Do you hear me?”

His whole body shuddered beneath my touch, and I felt his arms circle around my waist.

“I thought I made you sick,” he rasped, his eyes glassy and glowing and beautiful and looking right at me.

“I’m willing to look past it,” I laughed, and it was full of sniffling and more tears, buthappytears. All the excess of the love I had for him that had no place else to go but out. When he dropped his forehead to mine, I pulled him tighter to me, relishing the feel of his broad, solid form beneath my hands.

This man, who was brighter than any sun.

When he kissed me, it was old and new at the same time. It was the only thing I was ever going to need, but then he pulled back and his eyes darted over my shoulder.

“Jerry’s in the front seat.”

I turned in his arms to look at our big, goofy dog sitting in the front seat, looking at us with nothing but adoration.

“He is.”

“He’s wearing a seat belt.”

I nodded, “That’s right.”

Slowly, like an avalanche, Fane’s laughter started to rumble out of him. The vibrations of it pressed into my back where he clutched me to him, picking up speed until it surrounded us, coating us both from head to toe. I turned back to face him after his chuckles had died down, the smile on my face a permanent thing.

“Fall into me, Cali,” he whispered into the quiet night that pressed in on us, wrapping around me like a promise. “I’ll catch you.”

“I know.” I didn’t even hesitate, the conviction in my words was clear, and all the shooting stars and unused wishes that flew overhead were unneeded entirely.

“How?” he asked, his chest pressed to mine and our hearts beating in sync.

“Because you already have.”

42

Epilogue 1

Fane

Two Months Later

I’d always thought Artington was a beautiful city.

It had every season, and none of them were particularly brutal. It was picturesque, like something you’d see flipping through a coffee table book. That’s what it felt like, living in it—from downthere.

The crowded streets, the buildings, the trees, the sidewalks—all of it softened by a fine dusting of snow.

But from up here? The people looked like ants.

We were up so high that the penthouse was shrouded in a cloak of clouds more often than not. It made it feel like when the clouds did part, you were looking down from the heavens.

A god overlooking his domain.

My eyes shifted to my reflection in the glass, the city below blurring into the background.

The suit I wore was cut close to my body, tailored to perfection. A dark navy shirt beneath it, paired with a tie the same shade as Cali’s dress.

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