Page 76 of Don't Fall

“Oh my God,” Drea gasps. “Explain to me again why you guys aren’t together?”

Tess shrugs helplessly, her gaze traveling in circles around the room just to avoid me. “Probably because we’re both too damaged and scared.”

“I’m not scared.” And I’m about to prove it.

“Fine. My mistake. It’s because he’s not interested in me. In that way.” She waves carelessly at the image of Olivia wearing my ring, as if the entire other side of the house is empty. Void of the mark she’s so permanently left on me and which I’ve put up on display, not only to show her, but everyone.

“Stop.” I cross my arms in front of my chest. I can’t help her through this. She has to get there on her own. It’s the only way. “You know damn well that’s not true and you sound like a crazy person when you say it.”

“Whatever. This is stupid. I guess I don’t know why then.” I can see her swallow hard, fighting feelings. Feelings that frighten her. Feelings we promised each other we’d never have. A promise we both knew we’d never keep even as we were making it.

“Yeah, you do,” I whisper.

“Alright.” She sighs painfully. “It’s me, okay? I’m the damaged coward who’s scared. That’s why we’re not together.” She throws her hands up at Drea in surrender, anger flooding her face for being called out, for being forced to face it, admit it to everyone.

“Time to get brave, Tessa.” I march straight for her, closing the distance between us at last. Cupping her perfect face gently in my palms I search her eyes until she surfaces. The woman I fell in love with hiding behind the girl who never got over being the one no one loved enough.

I rest my forehead on hers, my heart on the verge of exploding, my body succumbing to the bittersweet ache of holding her and still not having her. “It’s okay to fall, Tess,” I rasp, my throat closing up on me from the swell in my chest rising higher and higher. ”I swear to God, I’ll catch you.”

Her eyes are the first to give in, then her mouth follows. Her soft skin molds to mine, her every muscle melts against my hold and her heart beats against my chest until it feels like it’s mine, beating inside me.

A whimper escapes her lips as they graze over mine and she breathes, “falling feels a lot like flying this time.”

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