Page 38 of Falling Together
Had Blair’s heart just been cracked open and filled with rainbows and butterflies? That’s exactly what it felt like. She never knew such a tiny little human could make her world so much brighter, but Nolan did it every single day. Blair didn’t know who had her in knots more—Nolan or his mom.
“I would love to.” Blair looked over at Erin for permission. “That is, if it’s okay with your mom. I’m sure you guys have a routine, and I don’t want to mess with that.”
That beautiful blossoming smile was back on Erin’s face once again.Are you sure?she mouthed at Blair. When Blair nodded, she addressed Nolan. “That’s fine with me.”
After they both helped Nolan get into his pajamas, he insisted that Erin leave so Blair could tuck him in and read a book to him. Once he was all tucked in and had picked out a book, he patted the spot next to him on the small bed. “Snuggle me.”
Blair did as he asked and snuggled up close to him as she read him a book about a giraffe that couldn’t dance.
When the book ended, Nolan pushed his body even tighter up against Blair’s, clearly not ready for her to leave yet.
Fine by me.Blair was learning she loved the feeling of being needed like this.
“I love giraffes,” Nolan said after letting out a long yawn.
“Me too.” It wasn’t a lie. They were actually one of Blair’s favorite animals. She found them to be gorgeous creatures. “I’ve always wanted to meet one in person.”
“You never meet a giraffe?” Nolan asked, sounding genuinely shocked. “Not even at the zoo?”
Blair shook her head. “I’ve actually never been to the zoo.” She felt pathetic saying it out loud, so she was thankful Erin wasn’t in the room with them.
“Never?”
“Nope.” Blair’s parents were always so busy with work when she was growing up that they didn’t have time formundanethings such as the zoo. They saved their time off for her and Blake’s activities and to go on long, elaborate vacations every summer. It wasn’t that she wasn’t thankful for those things, but it felt like she had missed out on normal childhood experiences, such as the zoo.
“Don’t worry, Bear, I take you there sometime.” Nolan grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles as if he understood exactly what she needed at that moment.
Sometimes, this kid couldn’t figure out how to step into a pair of pants, but he could read her like a book. As pathetic as it might be, she had to force herself to hold back tears, because it was so fucking sweet that she could hardly handle it.
As if he hadn’t just restored Blair’s entire faith in humanity with one sentence, he rolled onto his side and immediately began to snore.
Blair slowly and carefully extracted herself from the bed. Her body jolted in surprise when she pushed open the door and found someone standing on the other side. She put her hand on her chest to try to calm her beating heart. “Shit, Erin. I didn’t know you were standing there.”
Even though the hallway was dark, Blair could see the slightest hint of red on Erin’s cheeks. “Sorry. It was so adorable, I couldn’t get myself to walk away.”
“Did you, um, hear everything?”
“I did.” Erin looked toward the ground. “You’ve really never been to the zoo?”
Blair shrugged. She was pretty sure her own face was turning red now. “Pretty pathetic, right? I’ve been to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but never to the zoo.”
“As someone who will most likely never evenseethe Eiffel Tower, I don’t find it pathetic at all. Who needs a zoo when you have Paris, right?”
“Honestly?” Blair pointed a finger at her own chest. “I wasn’t lying when I told Nolan I’ve always wanted to go. There was one about an hour from where I went to college, and last year I asked my friends if they wanted to go. They must have thought I was joking, because they laughed hysterically. I guess a newly twenty-one-year-old being excited about going to see animals isn’t exactlycool.”
“Well, this might not mean much to you coming from me, but I think you’re super cool.”
Blair let her eyes meet Erin’s for the first time since coming out of Nolan’s room, and the intensity in them nearly knocked her over. She wasn’t imagining it. There was something between them, and the walls surrounding the two of them were slowly closing in on her.
Blair’s heartbeat picked up again as she let her eyes drift to Erin’s lips. They were full and wet as if she had just licked them, and all Blair could think about was what they would taste like on hers. When she caught Erin’s eyes quickly sneaking a peek at her lips as well, she couldn’t take it anymore. She let her body have control and didn’t stop herself as she moved into Erin’s space. The closer she got, the heavier Erin’s breathing became and the more erratic Blair’s heart beat.
This is happening. This is actually happening. It’s not just my imagination. We’re going to kiss.
“Mommy!” Nolan’s voice caused the two of them to jump apart. “Don’t stand outside my room.”
“Sorry, bud,” Erin said, the crack to her voice telling Blair that the last few seconds weren’t just some elaborate dream. “Sleep tight.”
Erin nodded toward the steps and Blair felt as if she was in a daze as she walked down and over to the front door. “So,” she said as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet.
