Page 25 of You Fall First

“How long until Paige gets back?” Jo asks.

“She should be discharged tomorrow,” I say, “but I’m not sure when she’ll be safe to fly. Hopefully her recovery will be quick. But either way, Dutton’s stuck with Uncle Noah the next couple days.”

“If you need anything …” Jo blinks up at me, her eyes big and blue. “I can help.”

My lungs feel suddenly inadequate. “I’ve got it covered,” I tell her, like I told Paige. Like I keep telling myself.

“At least take this.” She passes the stuffed rabbit to me. “Dutton can keep him as long as he wants.”

“Thanks.” The word comes out gruff with emotion. “This will help when I tell him about his mom. But I think I’m gonna wait until after the surgery’s over.” The last thing I’d ever want to do is promise the kid everything’s gonna be fine and have it be a lie.

From across the house, Tim calls out, “Sticky children incoming!”

“Uncle Noah!” Dutton careens through the back slider with Rowan and Wally following close behind. His grin is wide and streaked with chocolate as he tumbles into my legs. “I didn’t eat every ice cream,” he announces. “Only most!”

My heart pinches. “Only most sounds pretty great, bud.”

“I said all my manners too.”

“I’ll bet you did.” I hold the rabbit out to him. “And guess what? Miss Jo has a surprise for you. This is her friend, Bugs, but she says he can sleep over at our house if you want.”

Dutton clutches the rabbit tightly to his chest. “Thank you,” he says, peeking up at her.

“You’re welcome,” Jo says. “Bugs is excited.”

“Can we tell Mama?” he asks. His voice is so bright and full of hope that my gut wrenches.

“It’s kinda late for a phone call, bud.”

He gives a little hop. “FaceTime!”

Right. Duh, Uncle Noah.

I glance at Jo, feeling helpless, and her eyes go soft. She crouches to his level, then pretends Bugs is whispering something to her. Dutton leans in, eyes wide. “What’s he say?”

“Bugs says you can text her for now.”

“Text?”

“Yes.” Jo pauses, like she’s listening again. “Bugs also says not to worry, because this is the kind of thing mamas already know.”

Dutton takes a beat, studies Jo’s face, then turns to me and nods so sincerely, my insides ache. “We call her in the morning?”

“Yeah, buddy,” I manage despite the lump in my throat. “That’s exactly what we’ll do.”

Chapter Six

Jo

Once all the dishes are done, and the house is emptied of everyone who doesn’t live here, I hole up in my room, alone with my churning stomach.

The churn is mostly from cramps, but I’d be lying if I claimed I’m not at least a little dysregulated by Noah. Strictly out of concern for him and Dutton and Paige, of course.

She’ll be fine, though. She has to be. And in the meantime, Noah seems to have the situation pretty well handled, considering he’s a bachelor with no kids of his own. Still, the swirling inside me continues, and lying on the bed listening to my PMS playlist on Spotify doesn’t help.

I try Maren, but the call goes directly to voicemail. She’s probably breaking up with Bucky right now.

What I really need are some kisses.