Page 44 of Fall (Rise & Fall Duet 2)

And I wasn’t one to linger in bed. This morning, I had zero desire to get out.

I expected a bit of awkwardness, waking up with someone else beside me. There wasn’t. This felt right.

How I’d lived before this was what was wrong.

She was soft, a contrast to my hardness. She was kind to my blunt nature. She was courageous where I did what was necessary to get by.

And she made me see things as if the world were a brand-new place.

It was as if I were waking up for the first time.

Everything was the same.

I was different.

Paws landed on the side of the bed and a face appeared.

You need to go out?

See? Different. I was talking to a dog in my head so I didn’t wake up Lexie.

He panted as if he’d read my thoughts.

Reluctantly, I untangled from Lexie.

“Sneaking out?” she asked when I had one leg out of the bed.

“I never imagined I’d spend this much of my life taking a dog for a walk.” I twisted to face her. “I haven’t decided if he has to do his business or just wants a hot dog.”

Muffy’s tail flew at the mention of the food that was quickly becoming his favorite.

Lexie’s lips parted. “You feed him . . . hot dogs?”

“Don’t tell Pepper. She’ll kill me.”

She snickered. “Are you afraid she’ll take yourfosterdog back?”

I guessed Lexie knew the dog situation wasn’t temporary just as my brother had.

I patted Muffy’s head. “He doesn’t want to go back.”

She gave me ayeah surelook. “Youdon’t wanthimto go back.”

“Same difference.” I swung my other leg out of the bed. “Want to go for a walk?”

“Are you talking to me or him?” Lexie pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.

Seeing her in my bed and happy was a beautiful sight.

“Both.”

She hopped up and swiped that awful sweatshirt off the floor. “Will I embarrass you wearing this?” She dangled it from her finger.

Actually, I couldn’t believe she would don it in public. She was always impeccable for the outside world.

“You could never embarrass me.” I rounded the foot of the bed and grabbed her by the hips. “And I didn’t hear a proper good morning.”

My lips twitched and it was an odd sensation. I shouldn’t feel this . . . carefree. But I was . . . in a stellar mood.

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