The Fall Up (The Fall Up #1)(71)

“Levee, wait,” Devon pleaded as Carter pulled him to his feet.

“Henry, you want to press any charges?” I asked as he made his way over me.

“Nope,” he replied, draping his arm around my shoulders in a show of solidarity.

“Okay, then. Devon, if you ever show your face on my property again, I will call the police. I will have you arrested. And I will press charges.” I held his gaze for several seconds to reinforce how serious I really was.

My heart was still absolutely breaking, but I sucked it up, because I had to.

I wasn’t Spiderman.

I couldn’t fix the way Devon felt for me.

I couldn’t keep him employed just because I felt guilty.

I could, however, do what was best for me.

“You did good,” Henry whispered as Carter led Devon out of my front door.

My shoulders slacked, but my stomach rolled. I had so much more good to do.

“Mrs. Rivers, I’m sorry you had to witness that, but what he said was the truth…kinda.”

“Levee, leave it alone,” Sam warned.

“No. First of all, with the way that went down, I give it until the morning before Devon airs all of my dirty laundry to the press. Secondly, don’t lie to your mom on my account. Mrs. Rivers, Sam and I met on the top of a bridge. He was there mourning Anne. I was there to kill myself…I think. I don’t really know for sure because I never made it that far. Sam has saved my life in more ways than I can count, and tomorrow morning, I’m heading out to a treatment facility in a desperate attempt to get my life back under control. I’ve been drowning for a long time, and your son not only breathed air into my lungs, but he dragged me from the water altogether. You raised an amazing man, and I’m doing everything in my power to get to a place where I can be the woman he deserves. You should be really proud.”

“Wow,” his mom breathed, looking up at Sam.

I smiled tightly, following her gaze up to his eyes.

Pure adoration was etched over every inch of his handsome face. “I’m so f*cking proud of you,” he praised.

“Don’t speak too soon. I think we need to do some sort of press release before Devon has the chance to sell all of this information. I’d like you there so at least he can’t use you as some sort of leverage against me.”

Sam’s smile grew. “Levee Williams, are you asking me to be your public boyfriend and not just your secret lover?”

“Eww,” his mom said, stepping out of his arms.

“I think I am.” I smiled. “I think I’m ready for the world to try to steal you from me.”

Sam’s lips lifted even higher as he sauntered in my direction. Using my chin to tip my head back, he placed a kiss on my lips then arrogantly said, “I dare them to try.”





AFTER A MILLION apologies from Levee, my family decided to call it a night. Before my mom left, she pulled Levee aside and had a little chat with her. They both ended up crying and hugging before Mom finally walked out the door.

As we watched them all drive away, Levee leaned her head on my shoulder and declared that I was never allowed to meet her parents. I laughed then tossed her over my shoulder and headed up the winding staircase to her bedroom.

I would love to say that I stripped her naked and we blocked out the world while tangled between the sheets. However, when I deposited her on the bed, Henry was lounging next to her. And, as I collapsed on the other side of her, I knew things were bad when Henry didn’t even crack a threesome joke.

“So, are you sure about this? I mean, do you really think Devon would sell you out like that?” he asked the ceiling.

“I don’t know. Two hours ago, no. But now…I’m not sure. How the hell did I not know he was in love with me?”

Sliding my arm under her head, I said, “I told you he was your Kevin Costner.”

“Oh, hush,” she teased, rolling to my side.

“For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing the right thing. Hiding doesn’t help anyone,” Henry said, climbing off the bed and moving to the chair in the corner. “You still planning to step away for a little while?”

Levee’s head tilted back to look at me. While holding my gaze, she responded to Henry. “Yeah. I really think I need to.”

“Good. Then call Stewart. Make an official statement. Blast it everywhere, and then get better so I can stop spending my weekends alone with you two. It’s making me horny. I can’t even remember the last time I got laid.”

“Tuesday. The photographer,” she informed him. “I got the play-by-play on Wednesday.”

Henry smiled fondly. “Ah, yes. I should call him.”

She turned her attention back to me. “Are you sure you’re ready for all of this? I’ll totally understand if you want to stay out of it.”

“What do I have to lose, Levee? I’m in this with you one hundred percent, and if it means you get to stop hiding and we get to live a life…together, I’m ready for it all with you.” I smiled, kissing the tip of her nose. “And yes, I’ll sign the copyright release on that too.”

With a groan, she lifted her phone to dial. “Nah. You can keep that one. It wasn’t that great.”

“What!” I exclaimed.

“Yeah, not your best work. You really should have tried harder.”