Page 110 of Worth the Fall

“You’re infuriating.” I actually smiled for the first time since everything had happened.

“But you love me anyway.” He grinned, still gripping me tight.

“I do,” I admitted, and he looked relieved that I’d said it. “I’ve got to go.”

When I removed myself from Thomas’s grip, I was a little surprised that he hadn’t insisted on walking me out or acted overbearing in any way. The man simply gave me my space to do what I needed. Which I both loved and hated, if I was being honest.

I drove to the resort, answered a million questions from everyone, and reassured them that Clara was okay before locking myself in my office. When I spotted the bundle of clothes that Clara had laid down on my couch yesterday, I lost it. Scooping it all up, I pressed it against my face, breathing in the scent of that sweet little girl. And I cried. All of the emotions from the last fifteen hours spilling out of me. Thoughts of what could have happened filled my head. Worst-case scenarios.

Setting them down, I got to my computer and double-checked all of the vendor delivery schedules and billing invoices before heading down to the conference rooms to check on the setup and make sure everything had arrived as planned.

The rooms looked stunning. Lights and flowers made the room look like a winter wonderland. Everything was as it should be, and it was beyond comforting to know that I had a staff I could rely on when times got tough. It almost felt like they didn’t even need me. But then again, I was in a self-loathing kind of mood, so it made sense that I’d think that, even if it wasn’t really true.

I made my way back to my office, my heart lurching inside my chest at the sight of the Christmas decorations that I couldn’t wait to show Clara yesterday. They felt tainted now. And I hated that. I didn’t want to feel that way about something so beautiful.

Grabbing my things from my desk and Clara’s from my couch, I fired off a text to Lana and hoped like hell she wasn’t fully booked at the salon.

Meet me at the saloon? I need my best friend.

Relief flooded through me as she answered right away.

On my way.

Ishoved through theheavy wooden doors, thankful that only a handful of regulars dotted the giant space, but didn’t really pay me any attention as I walked inside. I was happy to see Bella behind the bar.

“Brooklyn.” Her tone was filled with worry. “How are you? How’s Clara? How’s Thomas?”

“Hey,” I said as I sat down at the bar and tossed my purse on the stool next to mine to save it for Lana. “Everyone’s okay. Thank you for telling Lana last night. And for reaching out to Matthew.”

She jerked slightly, the same way Matthew had done last night at the mention of her name, and I vowed to one day figure out what exactly their deal was.

“Is Matthew all right?” she asked, and I could tell that she cared about him.

“I think so. He’s at Thomas’s house right now. They all are.”

I watched as she swallowed before asking, “Are we waiting for Lana?”

“Yeah,” I said right as my best friend came bouncing into the saloon like everyone in there was being graced with her presence.

I hopped out of the chair and hugged her. It felt good.

“You’re okay, Brooky. Everything is all right.” She petted at the back of my hair, her hand running down the length of it repeatedly, as if to calm me.

“It doesn’t feel all right,” I admitted as she moved my purse over and hopped onto the stool.

“Talk to us,” Lana said, including Bella in the conversation, and honestly, I didn’t mind one bit.

I blew out a breath and tried to stop myself from crying. It was annoying the way the tears seemed to continuously fall. I knew that no one would blame me for being an emotional basket case about the situation, but still, I should have a little more self-control.

Bella hopped to it, mixing, measuring, and shaking something without asking, and I hoped it was for us. I watched as she poured the concoction into three martini glasses before carefully handing them to us, herself included.

“Drinking on the job, Bella?”

“I think today calls for it.” She shrugged, and I’d never seen her be this rebellious before.

Lana reached for hers so fast that the liquid splashed over the top of the rim, spilling onto her hand. Bella handed her a napkin before she even asked for it.

“What’d you make us?” Lana asked.