The Spiral Down (The Fall Up #2)(72)

I rolled my eyes. “You know, the dramatics are usually my specialty.”

His jaw ticked as he continued to glare, but his shoulders relaxed a fraction.

Tugging on Evan’s sleeve, I urged him to slide back into his seat and give up the angry-Rottweiler routine.

He stared daggers at Carter as he obliged.

“Perhaps we should start over?” I arched an eyebrow at Carter, his body sagging as he nodded in agreement. “Okay. First off, while I’m not thrilled about you dipping into the family panty drawer, I’m not exactly mad, either. I was just…shocked. You should have told me.”

“Agreed,” he said immediately. “You know Robin though. She’s stubborn as hell and was adamant that you not find out. And then it kinda fizzled out, so I let it go.”

“And it’s fizzling again?”

He shrugged noncommittally. “Apparently.”

“You do remember I caught her using again…like, a week ago. This probably isn’t the right time to rekindle anything.”

He groaned and shifted awkwardly in his seat. “Yeah. I know. I really thought she was done with that crap. Shit, Henry. This is not something I planned. We have a whole history together that would take me a century to explain, and even then, I’m not sure I’d have all the pieces to the Robin Clark puzzle. I can’t make her settle down, but I can sure as hell protect her. Even if it kills me. Christ.” He raked a hand through his short, black hair. “That woman is doing my head in.”

Poor guy looked so defeated. I knew that feeling all too well when it came to Robin. She was beautiful, smart, and so f*cking witty. It was easy to see how he’d developed feelings for her. But, while she was easy to love, she was virtually impossible to hold on to.

But I guessed the same could be said about me. I wasn’t into drugs. However, I had enough unresolved issues to fill a…

“Holiday Stay?” I questioned with more than a little disgust as the limo came to a stop at the front doors. “Nope. Keep driving to the Plaza!” I shouted at the driver.

“Uh…this is where I’m staying,” Evan said, shoving the door open.

I dove over him and pulled it shut. “No, this is where the bed bugs, semen-stained comforters, and athlete’s-foot-infested bathtubs are staying. Your new room is the presidential suite at the Plaza.”

“My car is here!”

“And we’ll get it disinfected in the morning,” I replied curtly.

“Henry, this place is—”

“Shit,” Carter filled in. “The security is unacceptable. I’d have to find two guys to sit outside all night, and I really don’t have time for that. He can’t stay here.”

My mouth split in triumph, but I masked it with an exaggerated pout before turning back to Evan. “Bummer. I would have totally stayed here if it were up to me.”

“You’re ridiculous,” he grumbled, but his eyes danced with humor. “Can I at least grab my shit and check out, your highness?”

“Mmm,” I purred, rubbing my shoulder with his. “I approve of the new pet name. But sorry. Your request is denied.” I grinned then yelled to the driver, “Sally forth, noble steed.”

“Wow,” Evan deadpanned as we pulled away.

“Trust me. He gets worse,” Carter added.

I jutted my chin at Carter then said to Evan, “So does he. You’re lucky you don’t have any teenage sisters.”

Evan chuckled, and surprisingly, so did Carter, all of the tension evaporating for the rest of the ride.

When we pulled up in front of the Plaza, Carter started for the door, but I stopped him.

“Look, you’re both adults. What the two of you do behind closed doors isn’t up to me. But don’t break her heart. She’s had a shit life and isn’t exactly doing the best job at managing the present. Please don’t add any more stress to that equation.” I extended my hand to him.

“I’ll keep her safe,” he replied, gripping my palm for a quick shake.

It wasn’t a promise. It was a vow.

As much as I wanted to be mad about them sneaking around behind my back for the last three years, I couldn’t find it in me. Knowing I was no longer solely responsible for protecting Robin lifted an enormous weight from my shoulders.

And, as Evan and I were ushered up to our suite, his arm possessively locked around my hips as I signed autographs and smiled for selfies in the lobby, I prayed that, by the end of the evening, the weight of my insecurities would be gone as well.

I wasn’t holding my breath though.





“FINE. IT’S NICER than the Holiday Stay,” Evan relented, sprawling out on the down comforter I’d specially requested. “But I’m betting it’s not less than two hundred bucks a night.”

“No.” I bent over the bed and kissed his upturned lips. “But I’m loaded, so get used to it.”

“Yeah, I kinda knew that, but after seeing the price tag on the suit Macy dropped off for me, I’m thinking I underestimated you.”

I chuckled and flipped through the pages of the room service menu. “I’ll have her put it on my account.”

“I want to argue that I’m a man and don’t need you buying me suits, but you sign my paychecks. You’re paying for pretty much everything I own at this point.”