The Fall Up (The Fall Up, #1)(70)

He chuckled. “I can tell.”

“Thank you for not proposing.”

He laughed a little louder. “You’re welcome, Levee.”

“Please don’t sell Sampson to buy me a ring. And, just so you know, I’m not sure I’d marry you without the cock. So please keep that too.”

“Noted.” He squeezed me hard before releasing his grip.

I stepped away, suddenly aware of our audience and my makeup probably siding down my face. “So, who wants to eat?”

“Me!” Morgan yelled.

After picking up my new prized possession off the table, I snagged her hand. “Let’s go, pretty girl.”

As we walked away I could hear Sam’s mom scolding him for the non-proposal.

He just laughed. “Stop, Ma. She loved it.”

I really, really did.




The party was winding down, and Morgan had just finished blowing out the candles on her makeshift birthday cake. Henry and I were huddled around her, taking pictures so she could show her friends, when there was an angry knock at the front door. Initially, I assumed it was someone else Sam had invited, since they’d clearly gotten through the security gate, but the moment it swung open, I realized I should have made changing my codes and keys a priority.

Devon stormed in, leveling me with a murderous glare before I even had the chance to utter a hello. Or, more likely, a get-the-f*ck-out.

“You f*cking married him!” he roared, raking his eyes over my dress and getting the completely wrong idea about what kind of party we were having.

And, because I was still hurt from the little stunt he’d pulled in Maine, not even to mention his showing up and screaming at me in front of a room full of people, I answered, “Yep. And you were not invited. Leave.”

“You ungrateful bitch,” he snapped before stumbling off-balance, barely keeping himself upright by leaning back on the wall.

Is he drunk? I’d never even seen him have a drink.

Henry and Sam both rushed forward.

“Hey! Watch your mouth,” Sam growled.

Devon’s eyes flashed to Sam just seconds before his fist clumsily sailed through the air. Sam was able to move out of the way. Henry wasn’t so lucky.

“Oh, God!” the whole room gasped as Henry stumbled back, cupping his jaw.

Ryan and Ty both jumped in their direction. Thankfully, from out of nowhere, Carter came barreling into the room, wrapping Devon in a bear hug from behind before slamming him to the ground.

“How could you do this to me?” Devon screamed from the ground as Carter held him in place with a knee in this back. “I love you!”

“You what?” I shrieked back at him, more confused than ever.

“Oh, f*ck,” Henry mumbled, still rubbing his jaw.

“I’ve given up my life for you, Levee. I’ve spent every waking minute at your side. I’m a f*cking bodyguard, not your servant. Or even your driver or butler. But I sucked it up and did it for you because I love you.”

My head was spinning, but he continued before I had a chance to catch up. Devon loves me?

“I sat back and watched you parade dumbass after dumbass around for three goddamn years, but I knew eventually you’d see me as more. I was always there for you. And you fall in love with some suicidal * you met while trying to jump off a bridge. What is wrong with you?”

The free fall didn’t just find me—it swallowed the entire room.

“Oh my God!” Sam’s mom cried, throwing her hand over her heart.

Sam’s face paled as he quickly said, “It’s not what you are thinking, Ma.” Rushing toward her, he folded her into his chest. “I swear to God it’s not what you are thinking.”

“Come on. Let’s go outside.” Meg took Morgan’s hand. “Ty. Ryan. Jen. Let’s go.”

Ryan eyed Sam carefully. “Swear to God you didn’t lie to me,” he pleaded, crossing his arms over his chest as the rest of them filed from the room.

Sam just tilted his head at him and impatiently flared his eyes.

Ryan nodded, throwing his hands up in surrender before backing away.

“He’s lying, Ma. None of that happened.” Sam looked up at me with wide eyes while holding his mother in his arms.

I could see it in his eyes that he wanted to tell her the truth and assure her that she wasn’t going to lose her only remaining child the same way she had her husband and her daughter. I could also see that he didn’t want to reveal my secret in the process.

“Bullshit,” Devon slurred.

And that’s when it hit me.

It really was bullshit.

All of it.

The fact that it had happened.

The fact that I was hiding it.

The fact that Devon was trying to use it as an excuse for why I had fallen in love with Sam.

It was all bullshit.

“Devon, you’re an idiot. Because I love you too.”

Sam’s head snapped to me. “Excuse me?”

I waved him off and kept talking. “Maybe not the way you want me to love you, but it was still love. You and Henry were the only two people I could depend on without question. I wish you would’ve been a man and said something instead of acting like a little boy pulling the pigtails of your crush. You know why I haven’t returned any of your phone calls or even confronted you about the crap you pulled in Maine? Because I was scared it would mean that I’d have to say goodbye. I was hoping I could cool off and discuss things with you on a personal level, but then, tonight, you come into my home…drunk… hurling lies and insults?” I shook my head in disgust. “Thank you. You embarrassed the hell out of me in front of some really amazing people, but you made my life so much easier. Devon, you’re fired.” I squared my shoulders and looked at Carter. “Get him out of here.”