After I Fall

by Amity Hope

  Eric laced his fingers through mine. “I get what you’re saying. Trust me, I do. No one wants to feel like a charity case. At the same time, think about the alternative.”

  “I know. She said the bill collectors would’ve taken Dad’s car. I just wish…I don’t know. I wish they would’ve discussed it with me. I feel so blindsided.”

  “What could’ve you done?” he asked. “If this all took place shortly after losing your dad, my guess is you weren’t in the best frame of mind to deal with this stuff.”

  I let out frustrated growl. “You’re right. But now, I feel like Mom is thrilled to be able to hold this over me. I mean, I know she wants me to like Phillip, but I don’t want to be pressured into it. I don’t want to ‘have’ to like him because he made this huge, grand gesture. It feels forced. To be honest, I feel manipulated. It’s like Mom comes waltzing in here and says… ‘You have to like Phillip now. Look at what he did for you. Go thank him. Be nice to him. Act like you adore him.’” I sighed. “I sound like a child, don’t I?”

  “I wouldn’t say that. You sound like you’ve been through a lot. I’m sure this is all going to take some time to work through,” he said.

  I pulled in a deep breath and blew it out in an exaggerated sigh of relief. “I feel better now.”

  His light laughter rumbled beneath me. Our clasped hands were resting on his chest. I was warmed up now, and so was he.

  “I suppose I should go then,” he said.

  I smiled when I realized that he hadn’t moved a muscle to do so.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” I said lightly. “You just got here. And you drove all this way…”

  “Right. It’s a good fifteen, maybe twenty minutes,” he said solemnly.

  “So it seems silly to have you leave so soon.”

  “Uh-huh,” he murmured. “Do you have something else you want to talk about?”

  “Do we have to talk?”

  He hesitated and I wondered if I was being too forward.

  Before I could take it back, he spoke.

  He kissed my temple before saying, “We can do whatever you want to do.”

  “I think I want you to tell me more secrets.”

  His body tensed under mine. “I don’t—”

  “Secrets like this.” I placed a kiss on his neck, working my way up to his mouth.

  He relaxed and let out a sigh. “Right, you meant—”

  I cut him off with another kiss. Eric’s grip on my waist tightened. He tugged at me until I was resting on top of him. His fingers slid under my cami, tracing gentle, lazy circles along my spine. A delightful buzz reverberated throughout my body, making me tingle all over. I whimpered softly into Eric’s mouth as the kiss deepened. He took that for the sign of compliance that it was.

  I felt him smile against my lips as he flipped me over. With his body hovering above mine, he placed soft, sweet kisses along my neck, across my collarbone. His hands skimmed up my side. The feel of his hand against my bare skin caused my heartbeat to kick up a few notches.

  I closed my eyes, breathed out a sigh, and let myself be swept away on a wave of bliss.

  Chapter 11

  “Oh my gosh!” I sat up so quickly the covers came with me, jostling Eric.

  He groaned and cracked an eye open at me.

  Sunlight streamed in through my window.

  “Eric! It’s almost six!”

  I expected him to fly out of bed, muttering curses and scrambling for the door. That’s what I would’ve done.

  “I hate having a curfew. It’s like being in lockdown,” he grumbled. Then he tossed an arm over his eyes.

  “Eric,” I said, laughing as I nudged him. “You need to get going. Phillip is going to get up any minute. I know you parked on the street, but if he sees you—”

  “I’m up,” he said as he tossed the blanket off.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I wish you could stay,” I said teasingly. “But I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t go over so well.”

  “I could pretend I came over bright and early,” he suggested with a grin.

  He made his way to the entry, where his shoes were.

  I laughed again as I followed. “Yeah. I don’t think they’d fall for that.”

  He pulled me in for a hug. His warmth felt good against the chill in the morning air.

  “Still, I wish I could stay,” he murmured close to my ear.

  “I’m just glad you came over. You made a really crummy day a whole lot better.”

  He squeezed me into a tighter hug. I enjoyed it for the few seconds it lasted. Then he pressed a quick kiss to my cheek. His arms slid away, sliding down my arms, grasping each of my hands in his. He gave them each a squeeze and winked at me.

  “Maybe I’ll come back in a few hours with doughnuts and coffee,” he suggested. “I don’t work until noon today.”

  “Just bring yourself. I can throw something together for breakfast.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll see you later.”

  He leaned in for another quick kiss on my cheek and then hurried out the door.

  It was nearly an hour later when my phone rang. I’d burrowed back down under my covers and was in that hazy state, not quite sleeping but not really awake. I groggily reached for my phone, sitting on the night stand.

  Eric’s name flashed across the screen. I cleared the morning croakiness out of my throat before answering.

  “Yes?” I said with a smile. To be honest, I was expecting him to say something cheesy like, ‘I miss you already’. It was probably just wishful thinking because I realized that I already missed him.

  “Do you know what’s worse than a curfew?” he asked by way of greeting.

  He didn’t sound happy.

  “Uh, oh.”

  “Yeah. Getting grounded, that’s worse than having a curfew. Then again, if I didn’t have this ridiculous curfew, it wouldn’t have mattered if I was out, and then it wouldn’t have mattered if I got caught,” he reasoned. “And then…I wouldn’t be grounded. I’ve never been grounded in my life!”

  “They just did it because they care,” I assured him.

  “Yeah, they care about getting their paycheck from the state,” he grumbled.

  “How long until you’re off the hook?” I asked.

  “Not sure. Tim heard the truck pull into the driveway just a few minutes before their alarm clock went off. I got chewed out, then they had to get ready for work. I think they were probably late because of me. I’m surprised they didn’t take my phone away. Maybe they just didn’t think of it,” he grumped. “They said we’d discuss it tonight.”

  “Did they ask where you were?”

  “Oh, yeah, Tim got up close and personal to be sure I hadn’t been drinking. Don’t worry. I didn’t say anything about you. I just told him I couldn’t sleep so I got up around four to go watch the sunrise.”

  I tried not to giggle when I asked, “They didn’t buy that story?” Eric didn’t exactly seem like the sunrise type.

  “Nah,” he said, chuckling for the first time. “I haven’t met them, but they’ve got three sons. The youngest is a sophomore in college. He assured me this wasn’t ‘their first rodeo’. Whatever that means.”

  Now I did laugh and he did too.

  Then he got suddenly quiet.

  “Damn. I’m probably not making the best impression. First, I get fired from a job they got for me. And I lost the keys to their truck. Now, they catch me sneaking in after sunrise. With the truck that I didn’t ask to use.” He was quiet for a moment. “I feel like I should mow the lawn or wash all their vehicles or something. To make up for it, you know? I don’t want them to be pissed at me.”

  “You could do that,” I said when I realized he was legitimately worried. “But I’m sure they weren’t expecting you to be perfect. And they did raise three boys.”

  “It’s just that I really didn’t want to come here. Now that I’m here, it’s not so bad. I’d rather stay here then get tossed somewhere else,” he said.
/>
  “I’m sorry. This is all pretty much because of me.” I didn’t know what the Zierdens were like. But surely, if someone is taking in a foster child, they must expect some ups and downs to occur. Really, this could be so much worse.

  “Don’t blame yourself. It was worth it. Unless I end up in Antarctica next,” he lightly joked. “Then I might regret it.”

  “I’m sure they’re not that mad. And if they are, I’m sure they’ll get over it.”

  “Hey, I gotta go. Lisa’s calling and I don’t dare not answer.”

  “Okay, bye.” I barely had the words out of my mouth before he disconnected.

  * * *

  “Oh, I see how you are,” Clara teased. “Eric’s unavailable so you settle for me.”

  I made a face at her to let her know that I didn’t find her comment amusing. I wasn’t one of those girls that ditched her best friend for a guy.

  “I was busy one weekend. It’s Monday morning, and here I am, with you.”

  Eric’s mention of doughnuts and coffee had left me in the mood for…well, doughnuts and coffee. I’d called Clara and now, an hour later, we were at my favorite coffee shop. There were a few others in town, but this one? It had the best desserts. Therefore, it was hands down my favorite. We came here often…probably more than I should. Thank goodness for the pool at our house, I’d be swimming laps after eating the fried cinnamon roll I just ordered.

  “So where is this new love interest of yours?” she asked.

  “Right now, he’s probably getting ready for work,” I said.

  “Are you getting together later?”

  “Not today…or tomorrow…and maybe not anytime too soon.”

  Her smile slipped away. “What? Why? I thought you had a good time this weekend? He didn’t?”

  “No, it’s not that,” I hedged.

  “Oh, come on. Spill it. You know you’re going to anyway. Don’t make me beg for it,” she said.

  “He’s grounded. I’m not sure for how long. He kind of accidentally fell asleep at my house last night. His foster parents caught him sneaking in,” I said with a grimace.

  She stared at me a moment, her mouth hanging open in exaggerated shock. “Fell asleep? Am I missing something here?”

  “He came over because I was upset when he called. He was worried. It was actually pretty sweet,” I said in his defense.

  “I see,” she said, her tone lilting and teasing.

  I rolled my eyes. “It was all pretty innocent.”

  “Really.” Her word choice didn’t sound like much of a question. It sounded like more of an accusation.

  “Mostly innocent?” I offered.

  My cheeks heated as I remembered the innocent kisses turning not so innocent. After last night, for the first time, I understood how easy it would be to let things get completely out of control. As much as I’d liked Eric at my house last night, it would probably be wise to not have a repeat of that anytime soon.

  It had started out innocent. At some point it had started to turn not so innocent and it was Eric who had abruptly cooled things off.

  “EmLynn, sleeping with Eric on the second date.” She plastered on a reproachful look and shook her head.

  I crumpled up my napkin and nailed her on the nose with it.

  She laughed.

  “I’m going to have to meet this boy,” she informed me.

  “You do,” I agreed. Seeing him get fired wasn’t exactly the kind of introduction I wanted her to have to Eric. “Maybe we can plan a group thing.”

  “Me, you…and Eric. Sounds delightful,” she wryly replied.

  “We can invite other people,” I informed her.

  “Who? Janelle and Mona won’t be back until closer to the end of summer.”

  Janelle and Mona were the girls that comprised the rest of the group I’d hijacked my way into. They’d both gotten jobs at a summer camp, together. They were probably having a blast. Or—as I recalled how hectic it could be just watching over two kids—maybe not. They probably had their hands full.

  “I don’t want to wait until they get back. I’ll meet him. I’ll be the third wheel. It will not be the first time, it will not be the last,” she said with a solemn smile.

  “I know!” I smacked the table with my hand and grinned at her. “We can invite Mason Alexander!”

  “Hello, random!”

  “No,” I laughed, “not really. He works with Eric. He’s gone over to his house a few times to play XBox, or whatever.”

  “That could work,” she agreed. “I’ve always liked Mason.”

  “Ohhhh?” I raised my eyebrows and grinned.

  “Not like that.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s just nice. Not all guys are…nice.”

  I nodded, my humor fading. Clara got picked on for being a brainiac. Not ironically, it was the stereotypical “dumb jocks” such as Jace and Mike who had done more than their fair share of the teasing. Mason was on the football team, too. I’d never really talked to him, myself. Didn’t know him well at all, but from what I recalled he was a bit on the quiet side.

  “He’s going to be salutatorian,” she said conspiratorially. “We’re in Honor Society together.”

  “I see, so he’s a smarty pants too. You seem awfully confident that he’ll be salutatorian. And not, you know, valedictorian,” I teased.

  She made a face at me and tossed back the napkin I’d thrown at her earlier. “Never! He’s not that smart!”

  I laughed and she did to. Her confident comment had everything to do with her determination to hold onto her top spot and very little to do with her ego. Her laughter abruptly faded off when the bells over the door jingled.

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was following you,” Clara said.

  I glanced over my shoulder. I was surprised to see Jace.

  “He couldn’t be following me. I mean, why would he?” Seriously, I thought to myself, why would he?

  She shrugged as I turned back around. “I blew it off when he showed up at Papi’s a few weeks ago. But he’s always at the country club when you’re there. And quite frankly, he just doesn’t seem like a coffee shop kind of guy.”

  “That is true,” I conceded. We’d run into him at Papi’s, true. I’d also run into him once when I was with the girls at our favorite frozen yogurt shop. Then again, it probably wasn’t a big deal. Roseville wasn’t a huge town. People were bound to cross paths.

  I just happened to cross paths with Jace more often than I liked.

  I glanced his way again. This time, too my annoyance, I accidentally caught his eye. He grinned at me. I smiled but it was simply a reflex and it fell away quickly. But not quickly enough. My response resulted in his grin turning cocky.

  I groaned.

  “Are you sure he’s not here to see you?”

  “How could he know I was here?” I whispered.

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because we come a few times a week? And maybe because your car is parked out front,” she whisper-yelled back.

  This was also true.

  “You know,” I started, “I think he gets some kind of sick pleasure out of annoying the hell out of me. So, yeah, you might be right. But wouldn’t you think he’d get tired of such a boring hobby?”

  “Maybe he just likes to get a rise out of you?” she guessed.

  I shrugged again. “I really have no idea.”

  I was about to revert to my protest that it was just a coincidence.

  Before I could do that, Jace walked by. He held a plate with a huge piece of red velvet cake.

  “Have a good day, Em,” he said.

  He set the plate on the table and kept on walking.

  Clara raised her eyebrows and pointed at the plate. “Red velvet? Your favorite? That is not a coincidence.”

  She was right. I could never turn down red velvet cake. Well, not usually anyway. This morning I had no room for it. I was filled to bursting with the fried cinnamon roll and coffee I’d just ingested. Even if the cake did look
enticing. The cream cheese frosting was heavenly and they were very generous with it. In fact, it was so good, it had to be a favorite of a lot of people. Maybe it had been a coincidence, after all.

  I glanced over my shoulder as the bell over the door jingled. Jace didn’t look back as he walked out.

  I tugged a hand through my hair and let out a little growl. “I just don’t get it! I don’t understand him at all.”

  Clara’s face puckered into a look of distaste. “I think he likes you. He’s putting way too much effort into this to simply want to annoy you.”

  I shook my head. I could’ve spouted out a half dozen arguments but I didn’t think anything would change Clara’s mind. She looked pretty determined.

  And did it matter?

  “Whatever,” I said with a wave of my hand.

  To my surprise she was ready to let it drop.

  I realized it was because she had other things she wanted to discuss.

  “So back to Eric, and last night. You said he knew you were upset so he came over. Why were you upset?” Her teasing had faded away completely and now she simply looked concerned.

  I reiterated the conversation Mom and I had.

  She bit the corner of her bottom lip, the way she did when she had something to say but wanted to think it over first.

  “What?” I asked.

  “You do realize that it really was a nice gesture.”

  I nodded, a slow, hesitant agreement. “My head knows that. I mean, logically I do. But my heart just doesn’t want to agree.”

  “Maybe, just maybe, you’re afraid to be grateful to Phillip. Or to let him in at all,” she suggested.

  “Afraid?” I echoed.

  “Are you worried that it would be an insult to your dad?”

  “Yes.” I cringed as soon as the word was out. In the back of my mind, I’d realized that for a while. I just didn’t want to think about it, let alone admit it.

  “I don’t want to sound insensitive…but your dad is gone. Phillip and the rest of your family are here. You’ve got your entire future in front of you. Do you really want to spend it hating on Phillip?”

  “I don’t hate him,” I clarified.