Chapter 23
I watch Elizabeth go and I know she’s worried about why I would need to speak with Fallon in private.
“I don’t know if it’s the weeks we’ve been separated, but she is even more beautiful than I remember.”
Fallon makes a humming sound and rubs his thumb across his bottom lip. He reaches into his pocket and takes out a stick of gum, something he’s done a lot since he stopped smoking.
“She’s been through a lot. She’s in a good place right now. Settled and happy. You being here makes it perfect for her. I told you she just needed time and distance.”
“Thank you for being there for her. Seeing her now, I can’t deny that her leaving with you got her to where she needed to be mentally. But things may not be so good when we go back home.”
Julien is furious with her for leaving, and things between me and Jay still aren’t that good.
“Then we’ll both be there to protect her if she needs it,” Fallon replies.
I narrow my eyes at him and ask the question that’s been rattling around my brain since I saw how he and Elizabeth acted with each other at the bottom of the stairs last night. It was clear as day that they have created a bond of some kind. Question is, what kind and how deep does it go?
“Is something going on between the two of you?” My heartbeat starts to drum when I ask it. I don’t know if I’m ready for his answer.
I love Elizabeth, and I told her that I forgive her, but part of me is still hurt about the whole thing with Jayson.
Add in the fact that she ran to Fallon for help and not me, and my uncertainty about where I stand with her skyrockets.
Watching the easy way Fallon and Elizabeth interact with one another also has my jealously flaring.
The brief widening of his eyes makes my stomach drop, but I need him to tell me everything. Not knowing would kill me. I may have to beat the crap out of him afterwards, but I need to hear it.
“If you’re asking whether we had sex, the answer is no.”
Oh, thank God, I think, until he adds, “But that doesn’t mean I didn’t want to.”
“What the hell, man?”
“You wanted honesty. So shut up and let me finish.”
I sit back, crossing my arms over my chest to discourage myself from punching him in the face, and I listen to what he needs to tell me.
“She was broken, Ry. When she appeared on my doorstep, she was in jagged, damaged pieces and she needed someone to help her put those pieces of herself back together. She couldn’t face you, and she hated herself for it.
She kept talking about Old Elizabeth and New Elizabeth.
I knew if I didn’t get her away from you and Jay and Julien, things would only get worse.
Whatever demons she was dealing with, it was all too much for her to handle, and the weight of it was crushing her.
Elizabeth was at a place where one more thing would have tipped her over that point of no return.
I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I allowed that to happen. ”
The resentment I feel over her turning to Fallon for help dissipates slightly. “But it worked,” I tell him. “Whatever you did, it worked. I was angry about it, but I owe you for what you did for her.”
“I’m not finished. You said you wanted everything,” he warns me. “I did kiss her…more than once. Those are on me. I was the instigator. And I won’t apologize for them.”
Then Fallon hits me with something totally unexpected. Something that I don’t think I could have ever prepared myself for.
“I have feelings for her, Ry. I’ve never cared about a girl before.
I don’t like feeling this way about your girl, but I can’t help it.
None of that matters though because you’re the guy she wants.
I know that I’ll never have a shot at anything with Elizabeth because she is completely in love with you.
However, if you screw this up with her, I can promise you that I will be standing right there, ready to take her away in an instant—for good this time. ”
“Just try it,” I growl. “We’ve been through a lot together, Fallon, and I’ve always stood by you, but Elizabeth is mine. I love her too much. I’m not letting her go again. You try and mess with that and you’ll regret it.”
The threatening scowl that was on Fallon’s face only moments ago falls away.
“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. You continue to fight for her.
She loves you. You’re the guy she wants.
” He sits back and gives me a pointed look.
“But like it or not, she and I have gotten close, and I consider her a good friend. I’m not asking for your approval and couldn’t care less if you don’t like it.
It is what it is. I hope you can accept that. ”
He’s right. If Elizabeth and I are going to be together, I’ll have to accept her new friendship with Fallon.
He has never cared for a girl before. He has also never had a girlfriend before, or any other long term, meaningful relationship.
Fallon saying that he has feelings for Elizabeth doesn’t sit well with me, but as his friend, I’m happy that he has allowed himself to open his heart up to her.
If there is anyone on earth whose heart is big enough to accommodate all of us, it’s Elizabeth.
I guess it comes down to whether I trust my friend and my girlfriend, and the answer is, yes, I do.
Fallon can be volatile and unpredictable, but he’s also loyal to a fault and extremely protective of the few people he lets in.
I couldn’t think of anyone better for Elizabeth to have on her side or as a friend than him.
Some people may think the entire situation is a disaster waiting to happen and so way out there, it’s unbelievable.
Jay and I, and now Fallon, all in the love with the same girl.
Throw Julien in there too because he also loves her; he just loves Elijah more.
All I can say to those people is: You can’t help who you fall in love with.
I’m mulling over what Fallon has told me when he adds, “And just to forewarn you, I’ve invited her and Daniel to my house for Thanksgiving.”
He smiles at me like a snarky douchebag, and I punch him on the arm.
“She also wants you to come with us on the rest of our trip,” he finishes.
That takes me by surprise. I had assumed she and I would be going back home after today. “What are you talking about?”
“She wants to finish our adventure and she wants you to join us.
“She never said anything about that.”
“When could she? You’ve had her locked in the bedroom all night. The walls are not soundproofed, you know.”
“Christ, Fallon. Warn a guy next time,” I cough out, then grin like the Devil. I can’t help it. I’m a guy, and guys can be a tad egotistical when it comes to other people knowing that they make their women happy in the bedroom.
“So, where were you two headed next?” I ask, changing subjects.
“The last cities on her bucket list are Venice and Sydney. We were planning to arrive in Venice tomorrow. What do you say? You coming with?”
“Has she been keeping up with her class assignments?”
“Yes, ‘Daniel,’” he replies sarcastically, calling me her uncle’s name.
I chug down the rest of the now cold coffee.
“Mom is going to kill me. She doesn’t know I’m gone yet.
After I hung up with you, I gave Dad a quick call to let him know what was going on and ask him where my passport was.
He’s not thrilled with me at the moment.
They also don’t know that her memories came back.
They just know that she went off with you unexpectedly. ”
Fallon waves a hand at me, as if to say no big deal. “My dad works wonders. He did with Daniel. I’ll tell him to hit up your folks today and let them know what’s going on.”
“Yeah, I doubt that will help me escape the year-long grounding I’m sure to get when we go back home.” Then there’s school, I think.
“Hey Fal, if you can work out whatever deal you did for Elizabeth regarding schoolwork, I’m all in.”
Fallon gives me a fist bump. Taking out his phone, he calls his dad to get the ball rolling.
While he’s doing that, I send a text to Julien.
I’m probably going to have to work extra hours at the garage to pay off the expensive international roaming charges I’m sure to incur.
But that’s the least of my worries right now.
My dad may be the man of the house, but it’s my mom I’m most afraid of.
She lays down the law and dishes out the harshest punishments like none other.
My two sisters will agree with me on that.
Me: Hey, Jules. Plans have changed.