Page 68 of Quietly Falling
“More than you’d expect. Last time Mason and I went to pick up a bonded pair of cows. One is blind and the other is her seeing eye cow.”
“I’m sorry, what?” She laughs, standing as Birdie skips the porch steps, then skids across the wood and through the open door.
“It’s kind of their thing,” I tell her as I usher her inside. “Ellison acquires farm animals— goats when she’s annoyed with him because he hates goats—and then she does whatever it is that makes him forget he’s mad. And then just repeats that cycle.”
“So, like some weird kind of foreplay?”
I shrug. “I guess. She’s hard to say no to even for me.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because where Montanawantsyou to be his friend, wants you to be happy and have a good time, Ellison just decides you’re friends and that’s the end of it—like when you’re in, you’re in.” I shrug. “They’re good people.”
“It hurts my heart that you always seem surprised by that.”
“I’m working on it,” I tell her, pressing a kiss to her temple, “more so now because of you.”
She blushes as I type out another message.
BODHI: I just told Ella how nice you are.
ELLISON: You know I hate feelings – but I’m really happy for you
BODHI: You haven’t even seen me since I got back
ELLISON: I know things
BODHI: That’s terrifying
ELLISON: And don’t you forget it.
ELLISON: I’ll send the details soon, but in the meantime, enjoy your date weekend
BODHI: That’s not creepy at all that you know that
ELLISON: I prefer informed
BODHI: I bet you do
“Ready to show me around?”
Her question is the only warning I have before she jumps into my arms and crashes her mouth over mine.
It’s sweet and perfect andfinally.
32
ELLA
“How long have you been here?” I ask, looking around the space that looks nothing like him. I’d been in such a hurry to get him naked when we walked in here I’d hadn’t seen much of anything.
“About three years.”
“Three years?” The question comes out higher than I intended, and apparently I don’t school my expression fast enough if Bodhi’s arched eyebrow is any indication.
But three years?
“Yes…”
