Page 96 of Don't Let Me Fall (Don't Let Me 1)

“He really cares about you, you know. I can see it in his eyes. When his first girlfriend cheated on him, I knew the walls around his heart would be hard to break down. But it seems you managed to scale them completely.”

“I don’t know about that.”

Her knowing smile makes my heart rate spike when she replies, “I do.”

And even though I’ve deflected her more times than I can count, I can’t help but hope she’s right.

It terrifies me.

42

ASHLYN

I’m still not sure how I wound up on my ex’s doorstep, yet here I am, trying to move forward with his best friend, who’s fake dating my best friend to protect her from one of his teammates.

Since, ya know, it makes perfect sense.

But after meeting Colt’s mom and sister and learning more about his father and all the pain he went through, it’s past time to face a few demons. One of which is towering over me.

Hello, Taylor House. Please play nice today.

Puffing out my cheeks, I shift the strap of my backpack a little further onto my shoulder and ring the doorbell.

Heavy footsteps echo through the opposite side before the door swings open.

“Hey, Ash,” Theo greets me. “Come on in. Colt’s jumping out of the shower.”

“Oh.” I squeeze the backpack strap until my knuckles turn white and peek around Theo’s massive frame. “I can wait in the car or something––”

“Logan’s not here.”

“Oh,” I repeat, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Come on in.” He pushes the door open the rest of the way and adjusts his baseball cap on his head. Pretty sure he’s always wearing it, and it’s not because he’s going bald or anything. He actually has a head full of thick, curly hair, but the old baseball hat is part of his identity now. Hell, it’s his trademark. I zero in on the worn bill while avoiding the giant elephant in the room threatening to choke me.

This is so freaking awkward.

As if Theo feels the same way, he clears his throat and adds, “I think it’s shitty what Logan was doing behind your back.”

I fold my arms and rock back on my heels. “Yeah. Me too.”

“He can be a dick sometimes, but I hope you don’t hold it against him.”

I smile tightly but stay quiet.

“So, have you been dating anyone else yet? Or––”

“Hey, Theo. Give the girl some space, yeah?” Colt calls as he skips down the stairs, rubbing a white towel over his still-damp hair. How the guy manages to look so effortlessly sexy all the time is beyond me, but I’m not about to complain, especially when he’s saved me from the most awkward conversation I’ve ever had.

Thank you, Colt!

“Hey,” I say when he reaches the main floor.

He tosses the towel over the railing and smiles. “Hey.”

My fingers itch to touch the hair falling on his forehead, but I dig them into my folded arms instead.

“Hey,” Theo interjects. “I was wondering if Ash would want to get together as friends or something with you and Mia.”

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