Page 38 of The No Falling Rule
River “Crabby” MacAllister:My mind wonders, who are you? Friend or Foe? Angel or Demon? Redeemer or Punisher? All or Nothing? Everything at once?
River “Crabby” MacAllister:That’s how fucked up I am and you deserve so much more than what this broken man can give…
River “Crabby” MacAllister:Merry Christmas, Dr. Martínez.
“Holy fucking shit,” I say, letting the phone fall onto the bed. What the fuck? Why did he text her that?
“Did something happen between you two that I don’t know about?” I ask, even though I’m positive something did—and that she won’t tell me. She never does. I’m actually surprised she even showed me the texts.
“It’s nothing. He just caught me off guard,” she says, but her eyes fill with unshedtears.
“Let me text Diego that I’m staying in. We can order food and watch27 Dresses,like old times.” That movie was always our go-to whenever one of us was sad or upset.
“No way. You’re going out with him tonight,” Carly says, her voice slipping into that older-sister tone.
I sigh, frustration and sadness twisting together in my chest. “Why do you never let me be there for you? Why can’t I take care of you the way you’ve always taken care of me?”
She closes her eyes, tears slipping down and soaking into her pillow.
“Carly, let me in. I’m not a kid anymore. I want to be here for you.” My throat tightens, and my eyes sting with tears that I refuse to let fall.
“If you love me—and if you want to make me happy—you’ll go out with Diego. You’ve had such a great time with him. I don’t want you to waste a single minute here with my sour ass. Go have fun, baby sister.”
I know she won’t change her mind. She never does.
“At least let me reply and tell him to go to hell.”
A small laugh escapes her, and for a second, the heaviness in the room lifts. “Naw. He doesn’t deserve a reply.”
She sitsup, and I follow.
“Mia, don’t waste your life for me. Go out and have fun. We’ll be back in good ol’ Azalea Creek before you know it.” She gives my hands a reassuring squeeze.
I smile, but it’s fake.
I know I’m living a dream, a fantasy. But when Carly mentions the town we call home, something inside me twists. For the first time, I don’t want to go back.
For a moment, I let myself imagine a life with Diego outside this tropical bubble. That’s why we made the no-falling rule in the first place. But when he looks at me like I’m all he sees, it’s impossible not to.
“You’re right,” I say softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I need to enjoy this while it lasts.”
I pull the comforter over her once she’s lying down again, tucking it around her shoulders before slipping quietly from the room.
I close her bedroom door, wishing I could also close this chapter of my life—the one where I still feel like I can’t do anything on my own.
After my talk with Carly, I decide to focus on the present and enjoy whatever hours I have left with Diego. I’m not sure how much longer he’s staying on the island, and even though he keeps hinting at the future, we made a pact. I’m not falling for the most amazing man I’ve ever met.
He might be completely different in the real world. We’re both on vacation—things tend to feel different when you’re somewhere beautiful and happy.
When I hear a knock at the door, I bolt to open it, not wanting to disturb Carly if I can help it.
“Mia, you take my breath away,” Diego says, a glint of heat in his eyes.
He looks delicious, as always—dark khaki pants, a navy jacket, a crisp white shirt. The shadow of a beard makes him look a tiny bit older—and, who am I kidding? Even hotter.
“You don’t look so bad, yourself,” I say, closing the distance between us. Like magnets, our lips meet, molding together in a kiss.
I could live in this man’s arms. The way he holds me with such tenderness, yet his strong muscles are like a protective blanket. And to think I might only have one more day with him. I just need to keep reminding myself:focus on the present.
