Page 39 of Accidentally Falling
JENSEN: Flashing billboards are more subtle than you
MONTANA: I’m offended
BODHI: Jude, just put this chat on silent—they’re gonna be a while. See you at the bonfire.
Well,shit.
ARDEN
“Didyou give my number to your sister?” Jude asks as he drops a bag of groceries on my counter. Today he decided he’d meal prep here, and I’m too tired to argue. Plus he brought Dez and I can’t wait to put his new jammies on him.
They have little chocolate chip cookies on them and I’m obsessed.
We’ve created a very delicate balance the last few weeks where he cooks for me and I try not to overthink everything as my belly grows.
“What? Of course not,” I answer, surprised and honestly a little hurt that he thinks I would do something like that without asking him.
Turning, he drags his hand down his face. “I’ve been invited to go to a bonfire tomorrow while you’re atbook club.”
He says book club as if that’s news to him and it probably is, but in my defense I have no idea what day it is let alone what plans exist for future ones. Still, he’s totally going to hate that.
“That sounds…nice.”
“And I’m in a group chat.”
My mouth forms a perfect O as my eyes widen. “You have to know I would never do that without your permission.”
“I do, but…do you have any idea how many messages there were?”
“Montana is chatty so probably a lot.”
“Like seventy-five before I took Bodhi’s advice and silenced it.”
“They want to get to know you. That’s sweet,” I try but he just stares at me. “It might be fun.”
“I’m old and grouchy; that doesn’t really screamfun.”
“You’ve made me scream plenty and I can assure you, it was definitelyfun.”
“That isnotthe same thing. At all.”
I shrug. “I’m just saying youarefun.”
“What am I gonna talk to them about?” he asks and I can see that under the exasperation, he’s nervous.
“You can talk about how excited you are for the baby. We just went to the sixteen-week appointment so you can talk about that.” His eyes soften and my heart warms. Jude had practically melted when he heard the heartbeat for the first time. “You can talk about Dez and the bar and how you make me dinner so you can make sure I eat.”
“Arden.”
“What?” I ask seriously as I round the island to stand in front of him. “I didn’t know how you were going to react when I found out I was pregnant andtheseare the guys—if you weren’t involved—I knew would make sure the baby and I were taken care of.” He growls and I place my palm over his heart. “Show them you’ve got us taken care of.”
“I’ll never get over this town—everyone just all up in everyone else’s business,” he laments, and I chuckle as I wrap my arms around his neck and stand on my toes.
“How about this…” I purr as I wait for his hands to fall to my hips. “You can drop me off at book club and then use me as an excuse to leave when you’re ready.”
“Think that’ll work?”
“I can make a big deal about needing to go home and you can put me on speaker if it makes you feel better.”
