Page 35 of It’s All in How You Fall
Aw, shit. “Was it that obvious?”
Alex does me a favor and doesn’t double over in laughter midstride, but it’s hard to miss his dimple flash as he bites it down. “So much so, I’m pretty sure Peregrine knows.”
Double shit. I really, really don’t want Alex to know that Peregrine knows. I just stare at the sidewalk in front of me. “She’s smart.”
“So is Sunny.”
“Yes she is. But she also isn’t nearly as naturally suspicious as Peregrine.”
The rosebushes that separate our little pocket park from the street loom ahead. Though it’s not even eight in the morning, the squeals of children already echo from the playground on the far side from the basketball court.
Alex takes a sip of water from his bottle and then holds it out for me, the little slip of fabric already off his knuckles, the bottle free and unattached and waiting just for me.
God, it’s tempting.
“Don’t be a martyr. You’ve just confirmed you lied the first time about why you wouldn’t take any.”
I roll my eyes as a joke, but then accept the bottle. I pull off the top, slow my stride to a shuffle-step, and manage to tip water in my mouth without dousing my whole face. One gulp and I’m a whole new girl. “Thanks.”
Alex nods as I hand it back to him. He takes another sip of his own, then clears his throat. “You could’ve told me that’s why you wanted to stop at the market.”
“I owe you.”
Alex completely stops running. “Caro.”
I slow to a walk and turn around. Alex is standing there, hands on his hips—well, one hand, and one hand full of water bottle. He looks… put out?
“I just knew they might be at the market. One simple interaction. As promised.” His expression doesn’t budge, so I add, a little more forcefully than necessary, “Why didn’t you accept either invite? I didn’t plan that! That was all Sunny. I had nothing to do with that.”
“Caro,” he repeats, advancing. We’re nearly toe to toe, and even though I’ve been here before and recently, I’m struck by his size—the solidness of him, yet the warmth both in demeanor and in actuality. It’s like standing next to a marble statue you know is stuffed with cinnamon rolls. “I would’ve had a great time this morning with or without a meeting.”
“Okay… why do I feel a ‘but’ headed out of the gate?”
“ButI want you to tell me if your intent is a run-in with Sunny.”
Ugh, Peregrine’s concern from last night reverberates through my mind.You aren’t telling him this is a meeting?My voice is strange in my ears. “I wanted to surprise you… or not let you down.” I add the last part even though he’s already announced that letdowns are not possible.
“Caro.” He takes a deep breath and I realize Alex is searching for words. Maybe the heat’s gotten to him more than me. On closer inspection he’s actually red and sweating. “I came on this run because I wanted to spend time with you, not because I thought I’d get a chance meeting with Sunny.”
That didn’t exactly cross my mind. I mean. “Oh.”
“I appreciate your efforts,” he continues, batting at a runaway tear of sweat sliding down his cheek. He doesn’t break eye contact. “But… I don’t want you to think I’m only hanging out with you so you’ll work your…”
“Magic?” I grin.
“I… uh, yeah, but no.”
“Okay, maybe that last meeting wasn’tmagicbecause Sunny sent us off like we were athing, but I promise I can make it up to you.”
He squeezes his eyes shut and his head drops back so far his hat nearly falls off. “Caro.”
“Seriously. I’ll be better than Emma Woodhouse.”Emmais probably not his cup of tea, book, or movie. And well, she’s actually terrible at setting people up except that one time. “Okay, wait, no. I’ll be as good as Angelica Schuyler with Eliza and Hamilton.” Iknowhe gets that reference. And her setup was successful. “I’ll—”
“Caroline.”
I stop. I wait.
He seems relieved. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do. But I also want to know thatyouwant to hang out withme, not for a setup.”
