Page 36 of Quietly Falling
“I’m here, man; how long we got?”
Swallowing hard, I grip the steering wheel, the leather squeaking under my hands. “Five hours.”
“Cool. Hey guys,” Mason says loudly, even though I can tell that he’s pulled the phone away from him. “Uncle Bodhi is on the line and he’s gonna hang out with us while he’s driving. Roads are bad so he probably won’t do much talking, but we can keep him company, right?”
“Hi, Uncle Bodhi!” Holland’s sweet voice fills the line, and I can’t help but smile.
“Hey, Sweetheart, how are you?”
“Good! We’re making waffles! And did you know the science fair is next week? I can’t wait to show them my solar system!”
She squeals and carries on about painting the Styrofoam balls and using wires to attach everything together. It reminds me of the time I helped Mason make one of those vinegar and baking soda volcanos.
He placed third for his grade, and I took him out for ice cream after school. It felt like a win for both of us that day.
Settling into the seat, I listen to Beck talk about the lifting program he’s doing for football and the girl he’s taking to the winter formal. Lana grumbles in the background, but I know she’s excited to fuss over him.
Lana humors me too, telling me about the book club meeting they just had and how Cal and Ellison got into a heated argument over the logistics of a particular sex scene while the rest of them just watched the entertainment. The book Sorren had given me is still in my bag, and I wonder what Lana and Mason would think about me reading a romance book.
Or that Sorren Mackay had forced me into his book club.
When did my life get so fucking weird?
And, honestly, awesome.
I’m so damn lucky and I know that. It’s just hard to let myself feel it—own it.
They talk to me for hours, all of them taking turns until the weather clears and I can breathe a little easier. I’ve only just hung up the call when Ella finally stirs.
”Where are we?” she asks sleepily, rubbing her eyes as she moves around in her seat.
“We took a detour.”
“A detour? Where?”
Unable to find the words, I nod at the approaching road sign, the one that’s welcoming us to North Carolina, and watch as Ella’s mouth falls open and her eyes widen to comic proportions.
“Bodhi, why are we in North Carolina?”
“Because family matters.”
“But the roads…” Her words trail off as she looks around, the pavement dry now that we’re finally out of Tennessee.
“I managed.”
She turns in her seat and looks at me, her gaze boring into the side of my skull. I know without looking she’s flushed and beautiful, and it’s confirmed when I chance a quick glance at her.
“You’re gonna make me kiss you again,” she whispers, the words not at all a threat.
Oh no, anything but that…
I’m about to say as much when she leans over and presses a lingering kiss to my cheek, the gesture scrambling my brain more than I’d like to admit.
But it doesn’t slow the smile that crosses my lips.
Or the way my heart seems to swell in my chest when her hand covers mine.
And it’s kind of terrifying because if I’m not careful, I just might fall for this girl.
