Page 132 of You Fall First

He glances down the table to Amelia, then back to me. “We never meant to⁠—”

“No, no, I get it. Not every man is capable of an adult conversation. Or honesty.”

His jaw opens and shuts. Opens and shuts.

I’m glad he thinks the better of responding.

Maybe he’s not totally clueless.

“Anyway, I hope your wedding to Amelia is beautiful.” I arch a brow. “We won’t expect an invite, though.”

As I make my way to the dining room, back to Jo, I’m still on cloud nine. Even Oliver’s stupid handshake can’t deflate the air in my lungs. And I like the feeling.

Except for the part where I keep expecting Dex to pop up and growl, “Why were you alone in your office with my baby sister?”

That would be a horror movie jump scare.

Dex does, in fact, come over while we’re eating, though. Not to scare me. But to let Jo know that Nina Bennett’s in the atrium and wants to talk to her.

So after dinner, Dutton heads to the garden with Tim and the kids, and Jo leaves to find Nina. Me? I hang around out of earshot, watching her from the pavilion, wondering how soon Jo and I can be alone to talk about … us.

For the first time in my life, I’m envious of a principal.

I’m also pretty sure I can’t wipe the grin off my face.

“You’ve been awfully attentive tonight,” Paige says, coming up behind me. “To Jo.”

This snaps me back down to earth, and I’m afraid the next words out of my mouth might come out strangled.

“Yes, well.” I shift my weight, peek at Jo again.

Stop staring, dude.

Paige smirks. “Spare me the line about how she’s been so helpful with Dutton.”

“But I really couldn’t have survived the past few weeks without her, though.” I shove my hands in my pockets. “You’re looking at one grateful man. For real.”

“Uh-huh.” Paige nods like she doesn’t buy a single sentence coming out of my mouth, which is no surprise. She’s my sister, and she knows me way too well. Lying to her is not only futile but hopefully unnecessary.

“Fine,” I admit in a hushed voice, and the grin sneaks back onto my face. “You might be clocking something beyond gratitude.”

“Might be.” Paige scoffs. “Here’s the thing, Noah. You had to survive a lot of sisterless years before I came along, but I’ve known you my entire life, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen you so…” She squints like she’s searching for the perfect description of me.

“Irresistibly handsome?”

“Eww.”

“Charming and debonair?”

“Getting colder.”

“All right, then.” I splay my hands. “What am I? Please share.”

She takes a beat, and her mouth goes crooked. “Gone.”

“Excuse me?”

“I can say it louder if you want.” Amusement skates across her eyes. “You, my dear brother, are totally, completely gone for Jo Michaels.”