Page 109 of Worth the Fall

“I’m going to stay the night with her. You’re welcome to stay as well, but I can tell that you need space, Little Runner,” Thomas said, reading my damn mind the way he always could.

“I’m not running,” I lied because that was exactly what I was doing. Running far, far away as fast as I could. “I just don’t like myself very much right now, and I would like to be alone while I process it all.”

“I know.” He ran his fingertips down my cheek. “But don’t take too long, or we’ll come get you,” he warned with a grin and kissed me hard.

I gave Clara one last look, grateful that she was already asleep as I slipped out the door, peeled off my visitor sticker, and tossed it in the trash.

STRUGGLING

BROOKLYN

Clara got released first thing the next morning with a clean bill of health and all ten fingers and toes. She’d been lucky, and Thomas and I both knew it. He drove her back home while I headed down to Main Street Diner to pick up some of Clara’s favorite foods.

By the time I showed up at Thomas’s place, Clara was napping on the couch, her uncles and Pops staring at her like she was a miracle they didn’t want to let out of their sight.

“Still need space, Little Runner?” Thomas breathed against my neck as I put the food I’d just bought in the fridge for later.

“Stop calling me that.”

“Nah,” he said, his voice playful, like he didn’t have a damn care in the world.

I spun around to face him. “I need to go into the office and make sure all the vendors delivered for the holiday parties this weekend,” I said, and he just looked at me like he completely understood.

“Someone else can handle it,” he suggested.

“They’re all busy setting up and doing their job. This is mine.”

My team was at the beginning of a very busy holiday season, and we each had a lot on our plates. Our calendar was packed with everything from winter weddings to company Christmas parties and more.

“Come back later? Clara will want to see you.” He reached for my waist and tugged me against him.

Sucking in a quick breath, I avoided looking into his eyes because they were my undoing. “I will,” I said, but I honestly wasn’t sure.

Thomas leaned down and kissed me like I was the air he needed to breathe. Like kissing me kept him alive. And even though I still felt the exact same way about him, I knew that my kisses were more tentative. His tongue touched mine, and he held me so tight that it almost hurt.

“Don’t go too far, Little Runner,” he said once he broke the kiss. “Remember, we’ll come get you if you try.”