Page 47 of Fall for You
But Margot’s gaze turned pleading as they sat there staring at each other, and Ronnie shoved those thoughts aside, opting instead to do a mental tally of the new price tag on this wedding.
When the silence grew painfully awkward, she forced a smile. “Okay. Yeah. Sure. Go for it.”
Margot’s shoulders sank with relief, and she leaned forward to peck Ronnie’s cheek. “Thanks, sis. You’re the best.”
And then…she was off.
Margot practically skipped down the hall, happy as a clam. Almost like she’d expected Ronnie to say yes.
Almost like it was taken for granted.
Ronnie shook off the thought, but she couldn’t shake off the sting it left behind. Truth be told, she’d been feeling that way a lot when it came to Margot. Not so much with her dad, but maybe even a little there too.
She’d always been happy to help out. That was what family did. But at some point along the way, it had stopped feeling like a gift and more like an expectation. An obligation.
And if the money dries up?
She pinched the bridge of her nose and tried not to go there.
It was hard not to after the accident. Another ligament sprain or a plethora of other injuries she could sustain while boarding was all it would take to put an end to the payday. The most infuriating thing was that she’d sprained her ligament while working out at the gym of all places. She’d been pushing too hard, her personal trainer hadn’t arrived for the day, and pop—she was done. According to the specialist, that sprain had beenin the works thanks to a boarding accident she’d had a few weeks prior, but it was the gym workout that sealed her fate.
Oh man, if that happened again…who would be there to help her dad with car payments and to give her sister the luxuries she couldn’t afford for herself?
“You okay, kiddo?” Her dad had paused the movie, and Ronnie only just realized he hadn’t turned it back on.
“Yeah, I’m…” She was about to sayI’m goodbut couldn’t quite manage it. “I’m fine.”
But she got to her feet. Movie time over. She was feeling way too restless to sit and veg any longer. Brushing off the popcorn kernels, she headed toward the door where she’d left her running shoes.
“I thought you already went for a run this morning,” her dad said.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t go far. And besides, Sergei really wants me to do some strength training.”
Her father frowned. “Don’t you push that knee too hard.”
“I won’t.” She forced a smile. “I know what to be aware of now, and my PT says I’m good to run again. I’ll be back soon.”
Her father nodded, already turning the TV on again.
Ronnie felt a pang of guilt, even though she hadn’t lied. Not necessarily. She would go exercise.
Come to think of it, there was a running path that had stations for strength training along the circuit. If she headed there, she wouldn’t be lying to her father, and Sergei would be pleased, and…
She took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh.
And everyone around her would be happy.
Chapter Twenty-One
Eric’s lungs were burning by the time he reached No Man’s Land. He’d pushed himself harder than usual up the mountainside, keenly aware that Willow was waiting for him.
He spotted her by the tree before she noticed him. His legs came to a stop, and he bent over to catch his breath, all the while studying her freely.
She looked…
A smile tugged at his lips.
She looked like she’d just tumbled out of bed. Her curls were up in some sort of messy bun, but more locks were blowing in the breeze than neatly pinned in place. She wasn’t sporting one of her geeky aprons, and those baggy flannel pants were definitely pajamas.
