Page 66 of Falling Again

I’M SO MAD AT YOU FOR NOT TELLING ME

“Tyler, what the heck? You already told Reid?” I get out of bed, put on some sweats, and go into the small cottage kitchen, where Tyler is cooking. “When did you even get the chance to tell him?”

“Reid texted me saying he was going to come over yesterday to get something, but I didn’t want him to barge in on us, so I just told him we were spending time together. That’s it.” I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m serious! Look at my phone, the passcode is 1989.”

I don’t bother looking because I believe him. Also, Reid and Annika would find out eventually. I think they both suspected things would lead here soon. Especially since Annika gave me a talk about how she’s always here for me and that Reid’s parents have a spare bedroom if I need a place to crash. They are both so incredibly dramatic. I reply to Anni, telling her I’ll catch her up soon, and then check my work schedule. Thankfully, Sam is working the morning and I’m working the closing shift.

“I have a PT appointment in the late afternoon, but otherwise, my morning is open for you,” he says, setting a plate of breakfast food down in front of me at the small, round table by the front bay window of the cottage. This little place is quickly becoming my sanctuary. It is cozy and quiet. I had to move some furniture to make room for my art supplies, but I’ve managed to make it work.

“So,” Tyler starts and takes a bite of scrambled eggs.

“So,” I reply.

“Where are we going on our world tour first?”

I break out a laugh, “Canada,” I say with a big smile, and he barks out a laugh.

“How exotic.”

“I’m warming myself up! I’ve only ever been to California and Oregon. The world is a big, scary place.”

“To be fair, I’ve also only ever been to those states too. I want to check out Yosemite.”

“That’s still in California.”

“Yes, but I want to climb there. My buddy Griffin climbs there often and has invited me to join him. I usually decline, but I think I’ll reach out and ask if he has any climbs coming up. Also, Italy.”

“Italy would be so fun. The scenery would be so inspiring to paint.” I let myself daydream for a moment before pulling myself back to reality. I feel Dandy rubbing her little body along my ankles. “It’s fun to dream.”

“We can make it happen,” Tyler says confidently, and for some reason, I believe him.

TWENTY-EIGHT

TYLER

Now

Chloe’s words bounce around my head as I flow through my weekly routine. Wake up, feed Lucy (I’m warming her up to the neighbor’s alpaca), walk the property with Scooter, give Chloe a good morning kiss, go to work, get lunch with Reid, come home, resume redecorating the house, eat dinner, shower, sleep, and repeat. My palms are itching to return to Chloe’s body, but as usual, our schedules don’t align. Her bookstore hours tend to keep her there until after closing, and by then, I’m already winding down to bed. Chloe usually has Fridays off, so I’m counting down the days until we are tangled together again.

The feeling that’s washed over me is uncharted territory. I haven’t loved anyone as deeply as my own parents. And when they died, I didn’t think I’d ever come close to that love again until now. Chloe is real. She is ambitious and creative. She inspires me to be my best self, and I think that’s what I’ve always admired about my parents. No matter how long they’d been together, they’d always try new things and push one another to be the best version of themselves. After I broke up with Rachel in high school, I asked my dad the next morning how I would know when I’ve found the one. His words have rattled in my head ever since, and I didn’t think I fully understood what he meant until I met Chloe.

He was cooking breakfast, probably French toast or something. I wish I could remember that detail. I was sitting at the countertop, hunched over a cup of black coffee, as I asked, “How did you know with Mom? That she was the one?”

I wasn’t sure if he heard me at first. I was facing the dark abyss of my coffee as the steam warmed my face. Then he turned around and said, with this glassy-eyed, wide grin, “I don’t know exactly when, but I think it was probably a mundane morning, when we were still in the early months of dating. I looked over at her doing a crossword, and I didn’t want to be anywhere else. Not any specific location, but wherever she was I wanted to be. The thought of her not being in my life scared the hell out of me. I went and asked my mom for my grandmother’s ring that day.”

A knot rises in my throat at the memory. I miss my dad. I wish he could meet Chloe. Two people who grabbed life by the horns, not thinking about it bucking back at them. I exhale and take a sip of cold water to prevent myself from spiraling. The grief dulls inside me. I know in my heart, my dad is alive within me, and he’d be proud of what I’m building with Chloe.

Reid enters the therapy room I’m working in after a client leaves. His dark hair is overgrown and flat against his forehead, and his polo shirt is completely wrinkled, as if he found it balled up in the corner of his closet. He has dark circles under his eyes, and his skin has a grayish tone. He looks like shit.

“You look like shit,” I tell him.

“I love when you talk dirty to me.” Reid rolls his eyes and plops into a chair.

“What’s going on with you? Trouble with Anni?”

“Not exactly.” Reid is silent for a moment, but I can tell something is bothering him. “Ah, well, I need to tell someone—but you have to promise not to say a thing!”

“Hey, I’m great at secrets. You believed me when Chloe and I pretended she had a book event instead of going to that concert with Annika.”