Page 102 of F*ckboys

The phone buzzes again as I climb into my car. It's not Mia this time. It's Aksel. I glance at the car's clock.

Shit. Our coffee date. I completely forgot.

I debate not answering, but I can't do that to him. Not again.

"Hey," I say, trying to sound normal despite my ragged breath. "I'm so sorry I missed our date."

"Fallon, what's going on with you?" Aksel's concern comes through clearly. "This isn't like you. Talk to me."

I grip the steering wheel, torn between the truth and the lies. But of course, I can't tell him about Harvey. He wouldn't understand.

"I'm fine," I say softly. "Just...dealing with some personal things. And got distracted by work. Fully absorbed in a high-priority… spreadsheet."

Aksel sighs, clearly not believing my excuse. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"I know." I swallow hard. "I'm sorry again for missing our coffee date. I have to go."

Before he can protest, I end the call. My knuckles pale against the steering wheel as I take a deep breath. No one can know the truth except for Grave. By the time we're done, not even Claudia will know the full extent we've gone to on her behalf. She will just know that revenge has been done. She's been through enough already, and now this is our burden to bear.

Aksel

It was a surprise when Fallon didn’t show up for our coffee date. She's usually irritatingly prompt and, given her line of work, has zero tolerance for ghosting.

But after twenty minutes passed with no sign of her, I started to worry. When I did manage to get in touch, her excuse about being distracted by a spreadsheet didn’t really fly. She’s supremely organized with her work, with alarms andappointment reminders set up for everything. There's no way she would have missed our coffee date if she was really in front of her computer like she claimed to be.

So it feels like she’s pulling away once again, like she always has when I’ve gotten too close. But it feels like more than that this time. Is she hiding something from me? Is there someone else in her life? Worry gnaws at my gut. Something is wrong with Fallon, and for the life of me, I can't figure out what. But she could have at least called. My day is also busy.

I leave the coffee shop, my temporary annoyance fading into concern. Whether I have a business to run or not, I'd happily wait around forever just for one more chance to spend time with her. But Fallon's behavior has been increasingly erratic lately. She's distracted, prone to mood swings, and more secretive than usual.

I’ve tried to get her to open up to me, but she always pulls away with a vague explanation. Whatever she's dealing with, she insists on handling it alone.

Usually, I'd respect her privacy and just let things blow over, but this feels different and it seems to be escalating. The Fallon I know isn't flaky or unpredictable. She doesn't blow off commitments or go incommunicado for hours at a time. Yet these new behaviors feel like they're fast becoming a pattern.

Something is wrong. Really, truly wrong. And if she won't tell me what it is, I'll have to find out for myself.

I think of the voicemail she left me last week, frazzled and nearly in tears.

I can't do this anymore, Aksel. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up,she had said.

Keep what up? What has her so distressed?

Worry builds in my chest as I start my car and pull into traffic. I have to see her, have to make sure she's okay. And this time, I won't let her brush me off so easily. I'm going to get answers,one way or another. But I need to pick the right timing, because I don't want to risk driving her out of my life forever.

Fallon needs help, whether she wants to admit it or not. And I intend to give it, because when you love someone, you don't give up on them.

Not even if they push you away.

Chapter 57

Aksel

Ican't quite shake the uneasy feeling creeping up my spine when Mia reaches out to me. It's been ages since we last spoke—as in back in high school—and I can tell from the urgency in her message that something's wrong.

Mia: Hey Aksel, this is Mia.

Me: Hey Mia. Nice to hear from you. What’s up?

Mia: It’s Fallon. I’m worried about her. Can we meet? I know it’s a strange request but I know you care about her too.

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