Page 21 of Fall Twice

I feel like I may blush. “Good morning.”

We look at one another with almost giddy looks.

He clears his throat and throws the towel to the side. “I could probably whip up coffee if you want one.”

I hold my hand up and swing my legs off the bed. “No, it’s okay. I need to get going, as Oscar arrives later, so I’m going to order a taxi since you have class.”

Reid slowly nods, and his lips roll in as if he’s stopping himself from talking.

The next few minutes we both busy ourselves with getting ready. When he brings me my jacket, I wonder if we completely just ruined our reconnection in this part of life.

“You won’t run away, will you?” he asks, and I could swear there is fear in his voice.

That’s comforting because it means he doesn’t want to lose our friendship either.

“No, I won’t. I promise I’ll be in touch.”

His expression falters into relief, and he holds up my coat to help it onto my arms, perhaps lingering longer than needed when it slides up my shoulders. Leaning to the side, he opens the front door.

“I’ll hold you to it,” he warns me, and God, his smirk is… well, it’s suave and so damn cocky.

“I know.”

He gently touches my shoulder to stop me and then leans in to kiss my forehead, and I feel my body clench from a swirl of desire he just sent through me. I like attentive Reid, it’s new but fits him well.

“Enjoy your day,” I whisper. He scoffs a sound as if I said something crazy.

Walking away from him, my feet follow the path, with leaves crunching underneath my shoes. The weather has changed in the last few weeks, with trees shaking off the old, so in spring they can welcome the new.

And just like a tree in the changing of seasons, with Reid, I am somewhere in between.

8

REID

Walking along Main Street with Johnny, my neighbor, by my side, I’m listening to him tell me that I look different.

No shit.

I’ve had Lena on my mind. Her lips are better than I remember, and her doe eyes are now more determined, probably to keep me at a distance. And I get it.

But then we laid next to one another, and comfort never felt so warm.

She has a lot at stake, and I’m just clueless about what the hell spark she lit inside of me when she walked back into my life.

“You didn’t need to accompany me, I’m a big boy,” Johnny reminds me for the fifth time since I picked him up and brought him to get his eyes checked. “But by all means buy me a coffee since we’re out anyway, and none of that pumpkin latte crap.” The old man is the most entertaining neighbor I could ask for.

“I know, coffee, strong, with sugar and a dash of cream,” I say.

He nudges my arm. “And while we’re here, could we get a real magazine, please? The local Hollows press is killing me with the five-page feature on hayrides.”

I grin because his grumpiness is the opposite of his personality, as he is the most positive person I know. “Sure, the bookstore is up here.”

We continue to walk, taking in the beautiful fall day. “So, do you have another date?” he asks.

“Date?”

“Yes, with whoever is causing you to smile more than I’ve seen in the last few years. You could power the electrical grid with that smirk that’s fixed on your face.”

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