Page 127 of You Fall First

Wait.

She wants me, too.

A flicker of hope lodges in my sternum.

What if there could be room in my life for Jo? And room in hers for me?

Maybe she’d be willing to squeeze in spontaneous moments with me between work and family.

Maybe Paige would welcome Jo, not feel displaced.

Maybe I could fulfill all my responsibilities without letting anyone down.

Maybe I could choose something for me without being selfish.

The thing is, maybe is a small word with big margins for failure. So as we enter the playroom, the stream of maybes continues to flood my brain.

The space is extra full tonight, colorful and alive with laughter and conversation. Dutton and Kendal’s kids take over the make-believe grocery store in the corner, putting plastic fruit in plastic carts to push around the room.

Meanwhile, Kendal introduces Paige to a couple of moms here tonight, one whose dad is a new resident, and the other whose mom has lived here for years. Paige flashes me a look, and I can guess what she’s thinking.

We both miss our parents.

But they’re part of what brought me to Havenwood in the first place. I left my private PT clients to make sure our residents get the best preventative care. Less chance they’ll end up in surgery like my mom.

Or brokenhearted like my dad.

“You look lost in thought,” Jo says. She moves up next to me and nudges my shoulder. “You all right?”

Considering Oliver’s not around to witness her performance, she’s standing surprisingly close. “Sure.” I swallow a swell of emotion. “I was just thinking about my mom and dad. Hoping they’d be happy that I finally got Paige and me back together.”

Jo tilts her head to meet my gaze. “You and your sister will always be close, you know,” she says. “Paige loves you. So does Dutton. That won’t change no matter where they live.”

I glance at the kids, cracking up and trading fake ears of corn for tomatoes and lettuce. “Maybe so, but I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

Jo’s quiet for a beat. “You worry a lot,” she says, gently. “About everyone else. Except yourself.”

“Yeah.” I fold my arms. “I’ll take time for me in my next life.”

Her eyes go soft, and she murmurs, “You’re important too, Noah. Right now.”

My name on her lips does something to me—the tenderness in her tone. Then her fingers brush mine, and that one small gesture makes me want to gather both her hands in mine.

“Jo.”

“Let’s go,” she whispers, nodding toward the door.

“What?”

“Paige and Dutton are fine.” We both glance their way. Paige is talking to Kendal, and Dutton’s happy with her kids. “We can leave them for a minute.”

“For what?”

Jo parts her lips. “Just … come with me.”

As if she’s got some kind of magical powers, I do what she asks. We’re halfway down the hall when I reach for her hand, but she doesn’t stop. Instead, she tugs harder, dragging me around the corner.

“Where are you taking me?”