Page 12 of Forever Mine
Hooking the leg of a nearby chair with my foot, I drag it toward me. Fallon follows suit, and we recline back to watch the sunset. Most mornings, Julien and I jog up to our hilltop and watch the sunrise, but it’s rare with our busy schedules that we can sit back and enjoy the sunset.
“Dad asked Pamela to move in.”
He actually asked me first to make sure I was okay with it. I was ecstatic. Pamela has been good for him. She makes him happy. She’s also an amazing person. Night and day from Mom.
“He’s an idiot if he doesn’t lock that down and put a ring on her finger.”
Laughter spills out. “I’ll be sure to tell him that.”
But Fallon is right.
I swat a mosquito away when it annoyingly buzzes my ear, not deterred in the least by the citronella tiki torches scattered around.
“I’m heading to Durham on Sunday to help April move into her dorm.”
My stepsister thought about applying here, but Duke offered her a full-ride scholarship she couldn’t refuse. It’ll be nice having her so close. Duke is less than a three-hour drive from CU. She already said she plans to visit me a lot, but I figure it’s an excuse to come to the beach. The girl loves her sand and surf.
“Take the Porsche,” Fallon says.
I knew he would offer, just like he knows I’ll gratefully decline. Fallon has the misnomer of being a cold-hearted, ruthless bastard, but underneath his rich playboy exterior, his heart is huge and beautiful, and he gives it to those he loves unconditionally.
“Thanks, but my POS will make it.”
“Highly doubtful.”
I almost take afront at his doubtful bark of laughter. My car is crappy, but it goes from point A to B using no gas because it’s electric.
“How’s Jessi?”
A smile lights up my face at the mention of my vivacious, crazy best friend. Sliding my phone from my back pocket, I swipe to the picture she sent me last night.
“This is her new girlfriend. Keep it on the down low. And that comes straight from her.”
Fallon leans in to get a closer look. “Is that?—?”
“Yep.”
Talk about serendipity. While shopping at the corner bodega near her apartment a couple of weeks ago, Jessi literally ran into the lead singer of Badass Bitches, an all-female indie rock band popular with the college crowd. According to Jessi, the spark was instantaneous. They’re taking things slow and keeping their relationship private for now. Jessi is terrified of getting her heart broken again.
Fallon lets loose a long whistle. “Damn. Good for her. I know Pixie?—”
“Of course you do.” Fallon knows everybody.
He finger-flicks my earlobe. “Shut it, Barnes. As I was saying, I know Pixie, and she’s good people. She’s not the kind of person to sleep around, so if they’re dating, she’s all in.”
I take comfort in that. Like my dad, Jessi deserves her slice of happiness after the shit her ex put her through.
Crossing my feet at the ankles, I recline back and gaze up at the dusky sky. A few faint stars have popped out, and I connect the dots, seeing what picture I can create. So far, a snake and a rectangle. Rembrandt I am not.
“Mind if I crash here tonight?”
Fallon’s head lolls to the side, and I can feel those scrutinizing blue eyes burning a hole in the side of my face.
“You’re always welcome to crash anytime, but why don’t you want to stay at the condo?”
I only have a week left of living there since I’ll be moving into the dorms with Ash soon.
I shrug a listless shoulder. “Just want to give the guys some privacy.”
