Page 61 of The Fear of Falling
I can’t help but chuckle, grateful for the distraction from the realness of our conversation. “Did you just saywhom?”
“It’s the right word.”
“Maybe, but no one says it.”
Rolling her eyes, she fiddles with her purse with the look of someone formulating a plan to keep me talking, which means I didn’t deflect anything at all. All my teasing accomplished was reminding me how much I like this woman. A rock settles in my chest, making it hard to breathe. Ireallylike her, and it’s gettingharder to remember my goals and the reasons I need to keep things casual.
“Where did you grow up?” I grind out, desperate for a topic that doesn’t involve me and will last longer than a few seconds.
She looks up, narrowing her eyes. “South Jordan.”
“So we’re in your stomping grounds?” I try to picture Avery spending all her time in this area, though I don’t know the west side of the valley all that well. The University of Utah, where I went to school, is on the east side, and Eric’s family has always lived south of here, in Lehi. So while I’ve spent plenty of time on the freeway that splits the Salt Lake Valley, there was never a reason to come out West.
Strange, living twenty-two years in the same state and never exploring parts of it that aren’t all that far away. If this were a place like Florence, I would have seen most of the valley by now.
“What’s your coffee order, Benson?” Avery asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I stumble over my answer. “Oh, uh, iced Americano?”
“Is that a question?”
It wasn’t until she asked that, even if my tone was uncertain. I can’t hold back my amused smile. “Are you judging my coffee choices, Avery Grace?”
Though she fights her smile, her lips curve upward. “Maybe. But only because it’s the most boring order in the world. And I thought you were exciting.”
I fold my arms, lifting one eyebrow. “Well, what’s your order?”
“Cappuccino, obviously.”
I snort. “That made sense in Italy, but here? It’s a million degrees, and you’re basically one foam heart away from being a romcom cliché.”
“What’s wrong with that? At least I’m not boring likesomeoneI know.”
“Eric?” I wrinkle my nose. “You’re right. He’s incredibly boring, and you dodged a bullet there.” Her answering laugh almost distracts me from the fact that she’s handing over her card. I realize just in time and grab her wrist. “I’ve got this.”
Her playful scowl loosens the rock in my chest. “I can buy you coffee, Benson.”
“I know you can.” I hand the cashier my card, still gripping Avery’s arm. “But until we get your salary fixed, I’m not letting you pay for anything.”
She snickers. “It’s a company card, Bens.”
Bens. I like when she calls me that, just like I like touching her. Wrapping my fingers around her wrist isn’t in any way romantic, but I held her hand in the storage closet this morning, and that reminder of how it felt to hold her in Florence has left my palms feeling itchy. Any point of contact I get sends a shock of electric current through me.
I drop her arm and clear my throat. “Even so, I’ve got the coffee.”
“Fine. Then R&Q will pay for lunch.”
A swear slips off my tongue, making Avery laugh again. She’s going to be the death of me. “You’re going to make professional distance impossible, aren’t you?”
“Yep.” The amusement in her eyes, combined with a bright smile, makes her look so alive and happy. “You set the tone in Italy. Now it’s my turn.”
I have to stick to my guns. Ihave to. Letting myself think I can have this—haveher—is only going to make things harder when I have to leave. If I thought it was hard to walk away in Florence, that’s going to feel like a walk in the park compared to what’s coming. Because Avery’s going to make me know her. She’s showing me the parts of her I didn’t let myself know before, and each new thing I learn about her makes her all the more interesting. All the more beautiful.
I can’t fall for her, but I’m pretty sure it’s already too late.
Chapter 22
Avery
