After We Fall (Take the Fall, #3)(17)

“Like going out on a date?” I ask, my voice all watery.

“Or even holding hands with a sympathetic friend.” She gazes at where our hands are still joined.

Five months ago, I wouldn’t let anyone near me, much less comfort me by touching any part of my body. Yet, here I am…I want to have a life again. I want to be normal.

Most of all, I don’t want Penn to win.

Lifting my gaze to Piper’s, I say, “If I get another opportunity, I’ll consider something…casual.”





Chapter 7


Hunter


My next on-duty shift keeps me busy for three days straight. I was so slammed with casework that I actually paid the college kid in apartment A to let Jake stay with him. No damn wonder I can’t have an actual pet, or a relationship, for that matter. With my work schedule, by the time I see Evangeline again, it’ll be the back of her head as she drives away.

Or something equally as bad.

“Ready to go?” I ask Jake, scratching his head. There is nothing I’d like to do more than crash, but I made Jake a promise to go see his honey at the dog park. While I can’t guarantee the little blond cocker spaniel will be there, I can, at least, deliver on my promise.

Jake’s tail wags like crazy as we make our way to the dog park. Another thing I like about Rose Haven’s location, it’s close to everything. Things have really changed in this part of Forrestville, and for the better.

Growing up, this section of Forrestville was considered the absolute wrong side of the tracks. A lot of the houses were abandoned; there was lots of crime and no jobs—hence, the lots of crime. People were afraid to let their kids play in the backyard, much less the front yard, but developers came in, worked with the locals, and have made amazing changes. I think the place looks like it did when it was first built out—all craftsman-style houses and neighborhood stores.

It’s a great place to raise a family now.

A kid darts out in front of me, catching a football and trampling flowers as he goes to avoid falling into the street. “Sorry, Dad. Sorry!”

My gut clenches. Apologizing to my dad only got me a worse beating.

His dad jogs to the edge of the yard and takes the football. “Not your fault. Threw it too hard.”

The boy looks up at him and you can see that he’s relieved. “But Mom will be mad.”

“Not if we make things right. Go get the garden supplies and we’ll see what we can come up with.”

“She’s gonna love what we come up with,” the boy shouts, taking off.

The dad looks at me and shrugs. “Kids, gotta love ’em.”

I nod, but inside I’m overwhelmed at the memories their interaction evoked.

My dad shoving me against the wall for wanting to sit with him while he watched the game. My dad smacking me for trying to get him to stop hitting my mom. My dad yelling at me for being a no-good piece of half-Mexican shit for singing with my mom while I helped her do laundry…before he turned on her, hitting her over and over with a wire hanger for encouraging me to do women’s work.

My mother screams, her face pale and her eyes huge as she looks down. The blood. All the blood pouring from my father’s head. He was heavy, so heavy.

Sweat pours off me, down my back and face. The trees seem ominous, dark, and their branches reach for me, oddly shaped like claws.

“Fuck,” I breathe, wiping at my sweaty forehead. “Fuck.”

Jake whimpers a little, jumping up to lay his paws against me, and I rub his head. He licks my hand. I take a deep breath, then another one and another, until the sounds of violence and the smell of blood fade away.

Finally, Jake tugs on his leash and I start walking again.

“Sorry, buddy.” Then I realize why the dad and son affected me so quickly and so deeply. Their house is built on the lot where mine used to stand. Usually, I don’t walk on this side of the street, but the shade was calling me.

Next time, I sure as hell won’t listen.

The dog park comes into view, as does a familiar face.

Evangeline.

She’s playing with other dogs in the fenced-in area, with a huge grin on her face. I’ve never seen her like this before, so open and carefree. This has to be her before her * ex put his hands on her.

Jake tugs harder. “Spot your honey, huh? So did I.”

We enter the dog park through a side entrance that’s not easily seen from Evangeline’s vantage point. I don’t want to ruin her good time, but I don’t want to ruin Jake’s, either. Plus, I want to be near her again, even if it’s from a distance.

Right after I remove Jake’s leash, he takes off for the cocker spaniel that’s currently being petted by Evangeline. As soon as Jake joins in, she kneels and rubs his head, too. Of course that greedy attention seeker revels in her touch. Never in my life did I think I’d ever be jealous of a dog.

But I am.

As I step around the hedge of bushes, our gazes collide. Her smile falters a little. I fully expect her to run away, but she stands her ground, ready to do battle. If I thought it would help, I would shout it out to the world to hear that I don’t want to hurt her, but I doubt Evangeline would want that kind of attention.

Hell, based on the way things ended the last time we were together, she doesn’t want any kind of attention at all from me. If I were a smarter man, I’d cut my losses and move on, but, like I said, I would have to be a smarter man.