Page 32 of The Fall Risk

I snorted.

“I just think I have a very specific type,” he said.

“Which is what?”

“Heavily armed, slightly weird accountants?”

I laughed.

“You’re sure I can’t take you on a date,” he said.

I took in a deep breath. “I’m sure.”

We stood there in silence, looking out over the carport. “I think Izzy and Gabe are a thing—”

“I think they’re a thing too,” he said.

“She doesn’t really trust men,” I said.

“Well, he’s a good one. She doesn’t have anything to worry about.”

“She’s a good one too,” I said. “A little hard to get close to at first, but worth waiting for.”

I felt him look at me. “You are too, you know.”

“What?”

“Worth waiting for.”

I peered over at him. “I’m sure there’s another heavily armed, slightly weird accountant out there for you.”

“But will she like my tree puns?”

“I’d be stumped if she didn’t.”

He chuckled. Then the mirth faded out, and he looked at me a little sad. “You’re still not allowed to watch that show without me,” he said quietly.

I had to swallow down a lump in my throat. “I promise I won’t.”

He gave me a halfhearted smile.

My heart reached for him. I gently pulled her back in.

They say it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. I wasn’t sure I agreed. Something told me I’d never get over the loss of this.

It was early, and so new, but I could see all the places it could have gone anyway. Where it should have gone. Instead, Seth would just be a friend. An open field of flowers that I could see from my prison. Cool, fresh air while I suffocated in my little box. And one day, I’d look at the motion on my doorbell, and he’d be coming home with someone else, and I had to accept this. And all the other things that had been taken from me.

“Oh, I forgot,” he said, breaking into my thoughts. “I got this.”

He went to his apartment and grabbed something by the door. He held it up proudly.

“A baseball bat with a sock.” I smiled. “Let me see it.” He handed it to me. “Nice,” I said. “Wood. Heavy. I love it.”

He checked his watch. “I have to feed Swim Shady. Want to come inside for a sec?”

“No. I want to stand out here another minute.”

“Okay. I’ll be right back. Then we can go water your plants.”