Page 12 of After We Fall

“Right. Right.” Her blank-faced gaze moves to the kitchen window, and she adjusts her sweatshirt hem over her black yoga pants. “That’s what I meant.”

Finley turns her long-lashed doe eyes to Luke. “Tanya is studying for the SAT, but Miss Penelope said this was a good opportunity for all of us to work on our vocabulary. I just don’t know when I’m going to use the word ‘verklempt.’ Has anyone ever used the word ‘verklempt’ in their life?”

Tanya crosses her arms and huffs. “I just did.”

The group collectively chuckles, and I grit my teeth as the sound causes another round of pain to pelt my brain. Unfortunately, Luke chooses this moment to grab his beef stick and take another bite.

Finley shifts to create a circle with the five of us. “Shh. Penny Lady has another migraine, you guys.”

“You look like you’re going to puke. Is it the beef jerky?” Tanya scrunches her face. “But, Miss Penelope, just because Meredith’s gone on her honeymoon doesn’t mean we’re okay with you puking.”

I close my eyes as stifled giggles circle the room. If I didn’t feel like I was on my deathbed, I’d admonish them. While Meredith’s vomit phobia is a common topic of conversation in the house, the reality of it is not entirely fun.

Feeling a presence in front of me, I open my eyes and Luke fills my vision. On my next inhale, the scent of his jerky fills my nostrils. My exhale includes an unfortunate gag. As I tip toward him, I reach out, grab the offensive-smelling snack from his hand, and hurl it in the direction of the sink. My self-preservation move causes me to lose my balance, and I am forced to clutch his biceps. His well-formed, hard-as-a-rock biceps.

“Right.” Luke transfers me to his side, keeping a hand on my elbow. “Nice to meet you all,” he says to the girls. “But I need to get our girl here to bed. I understand you have the day off today. I’ll be here for check-in at ten o’clock.”

Our girl? What did he mean by that?

Bianca scowls at Luke. Tanya gives him a thumbs-up. But it’s my sensitive Finley who sees more than the other two. Her bright eyes fixate on Luke’s grip, and she glances at me with a grin.

I give her nothing in return. It’s best for no one in the room to know how much I enjoy Luke’s warm touch on my skin. Myself included.

He guides me down the hallway that leads to my bedroom suite. At the back of the house, the mother-in-law quarters are equipped with a full bath and an outside door to the garage. I can almost pretend I have my own efficiency apartment. No one is allowed to come back to my room. Not without reason. And because I know no one will enter my domain, I have allowed myself to make it my own. Decorate. Enjoy the safety of a cocoon no one else will enter.

“Please stop here,” I say. I’m not proud of my pitiful tone, but it gets the job done. He doesn’t move closer to my private quarters. “I apologize for needing your help today. I know this is not what you were hired to do.”

“It’ll kill two birds with one stone. I need to get to know the girls and question them anyway.”

The sharp jerk of my head is involuntary, and I pay for it. A piercing stab starts at the base of my neck and travels around my cheek, over my temple, and up through the crown of my head. “What kind of information could they possibly know that would be helpful?”

“I’ll go in soft with the questions, Penelope. But word of the wedding got out somehow. Tracking down that answer will help our cause.”

“They’re good girls who are—” My world spins, and I place a hand on the wall to steady me. “Doing the best they can. We’re teaching them new life strategies.”

He steps closer, his body towering over me. “Are you okay?”

I exhale, ignoring that he once again asked how I am and that I once again liked it, and direct my attention to the task at hand. “Do not give them a reason to make poor choices.”

“Do you have appropriate medication to take for this?” Concern laces his question.

Disregarding it, I focus on taking care of my girls. “Do not confuse them.”

His soft chuckle floats through the hallway. “What does that mean?” He lowers his voice. “Do you find me confusing, Penelope?”

I take two steps backward toward my room, my hand grazing the wall. Once I reach the door, I clutch the knob and release a heavy breath. “Do not smile at them.”

“My smile’s confusing?” Another chuckle.

I’m not trying to be funny. Is he flirting with me? Why does it feel like I might want him to flirt with me?

I swallow.

I’m a woman who doesn’t make mistakes. I only make choices.

And I make a deliberate choice when I glance back at Luke.

“My smile’s confusing?” he repeats. His eyes glitter, and the sparkle hurts my head.