Page 55 of Break Your Fall

“Hey, my asshole is probably still dirty because of her,” Banks shouts again from the side.

“He’s really been there for me, Tommy,” Reyna tells me now, her voice low and sincere enough for me to feel more gratitude toward Banks until I remember that these two have decided to gang up on me whenI’vebeen there for her, too.

“And so have you,” she says quickly to my look. “But so has he,” she says again with a slight shake of her head and a shrug.

“So he can get in your pants,” flies from my mouth before I can stop the words, and I almost wish I had at the stunned look Reyna gives me until I remind myself that it’s a fair assessment.

“Dude, you just fucked up,” Banks joins in, his eyes still glued to Reyna enough to catch the look, too. “And I thoughtIwas a idiot.”

“Anidiot,” Reyna and I correct in unison, the offense now on her face visible for the slightest second before her features relax on an exhale. She knows what I said is a cut to Banks, not to her.

“I don’t want in his,” she tells me, her words assuring, but they do the opposite, a swift pierce in my gut that sends the pain straight from my mouth.

“You wanted in Landon’s.”

My heart drops, then springs to my throat.Shit.That night reflects in Reyna’s eyes, and I’m the one who’s made her relive it.

“I’m sorry,” I rush out. “That was—shit. I’m just jealous. That was … jealousy,” I admit through a sigh before repeating, “I’m sorry. And I hate that guy,” I add, my tone protective and defensive of what that jackass put her through.

“I do, too,” Reyna says with the same tone, then blows out a breath. “He was just there, Tommy. I probably would’ve slept with any random guy that night.”

“Stop reminding me,” Banks hollers from somewhere behind me.

“It’s okay,” she says next, her eyes softening with understanding. “I know what jealousy can do to a person.” I nod through my own understanding, and while the shame passes through me, she moves on, picks up her argument. “Can you just do this for me? Just for a little while. He seemed really upset when I turned him down, and I want to do something nice for him.”

“Get him a coupon for free ice cream,” I suggest with a shrug, and Reyna plants her hands on my shoulders with a slight smile, giving them a shake.

“I’ll make this up to you, too,” she swears, running her hands down my arms until they’re back at her sides, and a smile stretches my lips.

“A coupon for free ice cream?”

She laughs. “I’ll do my best.”

Aclangsounds from the kitchen and I groan, fighting the urge to turn around and see what Banks mess I’m going to have to clean up as Reyna gives her final plea in a mouthed,Please.I almost lose myself in the way her lips form the word as my own mouth is helpless to say no to her.

Fine. Fine. Fine.

“Fine,” I blurt out, causing Reyna to clap her hands and Banks to whoop with excitement. And I get caught up in it, if only because I’m looking at Reyna and her happiness thaws me completely.

I feel Banks sling his arm over my shoulder and I sigh through a headshake. “MeandBlondie,” he cheers at my ear. “Dude, you’ve been fucked by a four-leaf clover.”Yeah, just my luck.“We’re gonna bond like we’ve never bonded before.”

“I’d rather bond with a turd,” I mutter as I fling his arm off me, the moment over.

“Don’t worry, dude, I’ll leave plenty of those in the toilet,” he says as he saunters back to the kitchen and I spin on him, his hands raised in the air as he faces me again. “Chill out. I’m joking. I’ll flush.”

“Thank you,” Reyna says as she squeezes my arm.

“Sure,” I say back, my genuine smile contradicting my sarcastic tone. “We’re gonna have so much fun.”

“Damn right we are,” Banks cheers again as Reyna scurries past me to meet him where he’s clanging beer bottles as he sets them out on my bar.

“House-warming party,” she announces as I meet them.

“Well played,” I say, smiling when she winks at me.

She retrieves a bottle and twists off the cap, pausing when she notices I’m still watching her. “You don’t have to,” she assures me with a gesture to the bottle.

“You’re going to,” I say, the assessment part question.

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