Page 43 of The Problem with Falling
Jensen smiled.
A smile.
I’d take a smile.
“I got some old construction paper somewhere in my office if you want to snatch that up. You can stay with me, too, as long as you need if it’s easier for you to be on the property to plot this out.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re just doing this to make me feel better, aren’t you?”
“Why the hell would I need to make you feel better? You said you were fine. Aren’t you fine?”
“Yeah.” He dipped his chin in a stern nod. “I’mfine.”
“Good. So just whip up a plan for me, will ya?”
“All right.” He paused and kept fidgeting with his hands. “It might take me some time, though. I might have to stay for a few days.”
“Take weeks for all I care, as long as you’re making something worthwhile.”
“Okay. Cool. Cool.” He headed into the house. The moment he was gone, I released a breath. That poor fucking kid.
I stood from my chair, and before I could fully stand, the back door opened, and Jensen came rushing out. He didn’t say a word but darted straight for me and wrapped me in a tight hug. I paused for a moment before wrapping my arms around him and patting him on the shoulder. He sniffled a bit but then let me go and headed back inside.
A hug.
I’d take a hug.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling the heaviness on my chest. I wished I could take that boy’s hurt and feed it into my own heartbeats.
“So they do exist,” a voice said, breaking me away from my thoughts.
I turned to find Willow in a swimsuit, drying her hair with a towel.
I huffed and grumbled before distracting myself from her and her body by moving the patio furniture around. “What exists?” I asked, allowing my curiosity to get the best of me. I didn’t know what it was about that woman, but she had a way of making me curious about the thoughts that lived in her head. I hated that. I hated that she made me wonder about…her.
“Your feelings.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about the fact that you saw that sweet boy sad, and sure, you didn’t give him words of affirmation, but you gave him the best one of the love languages—acts of service.”
“What the fuck is a love language?”
“It’s the way we as humans accept and give love. There are five main love languages. Acts of service, words of affirmation, physical touch, gifts, and quality time. They say every person has one that leads them.”
I glanced up toward her. “That sounds like some hippie bullshit.”
“What can I say? I’m a lover of hippie bullshit,” she said with a smile.
Hearing Willow cuss was odd. I didn’t know why it stood out to me, but it had.
“You don’t say?” I sarcastically remarked as my body tried its best not to react to her smile. Damn her and those perfect smiles. I wished she’d frown more. It would probably make me feel a lot less confused.
“Why do you try so hard to appear cold, Theo?” she asked. “It’s okay to care, you know.”
“If I wanted a therapist, I would’ve hired one, Willow. And if I did hire one, it wouldn’t be you.”
“I’m not a therapist. I’m just a girl who has a lot of feelings and thoughts.”
