Page 164 of Falling Backwards
Sharp, serrated, stunned displeasure cracks through me.
I look at Maggie again before he can notice me noticing him.
My heart is still pounding heavily in my chest, and I don’t like this new reason as much as the one from before.Nevertheless, I make myself speak with low composure.
“So, something’s come up just now, and it’s complete bullshit, but let’s not panic.This is why we’re together.I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I feel tension grow throughout Maggie’s body.It’s in her hand around mine, in the clench of her jaw beneath my thumb, in the way she lifts her other hand to clutch clumsily at my waist.And Iseethe tension when her eyes finally reopen and meet mine.
“Are you saying Kyle is here?”she whispers.
I wish my answer could be different.
But I have to tell her, “Yeah.”
M A G G I E
Kyle is here.
Kyle is here and we didn’t notice.
My thoughts are buzzing in a different way from how they were moments ago—buzzing with shock instead of sweetness, anxiety instead of affection.
Luke takes a deep breath and drops his fingers from my chin, leaving the place suddenly chilled; I’m glad he lets his hand go along my shoulder instead.
He says, “He’s not right up on us, but he’s close.I don’t know how long he’s been back there.”
The idea of us being followed to the park makes me shudder.Could that really have happened?Could Kyle have followed us from where Luke picked me up at my apartment?Did he end up finding out where I live?
“Oh my God,” I huff out.“Of all the times for our dumb asses to get distracted.”
“Yeah, we dropped the gummy worms on this one, as it were, but—”
At that, sudden breathy laughter leaves me.It’s almost giggle-like even in these circumstances.Then I’m frowning because I don’t get how I can be anything other than upset right now.
I am, though.I’m amused and softened.Luke is funny to me, and comforting and cute and…God, so many other things that I just…love.
I guessthat’show I can be something other than upset right now.
He looks kind of surprised by my laughter, too, but he softens into his own smile.The wind blows a bit of my hair across my cheek and he brushes it away, causing tingles to ripple away from that place and go all through me.
“But,” he picks back up on his sentence, “everything’s okay.Besides, if he’s seen us being sweet to each other, maybe that’ll help him get the memo, right?”
My eyes go over and over his face as my amusement dwindles and as my happy thoughts merge with my worried ones.
An idea whispers at me.
But it’s notjustan idea, it’s also a familiar want—one so strong it actually might be called a need.
“Right,” I murmur my agreement.
“Maggie, is that you?”comes on the wind from Kyle’s direction, but just like in the past, he doesn’t sound all that shocked to see me.
I land a long glance on Luke’s lips.
One.Two.Three.Go.
