Angel Falling (Falling #1)(73)

“Okay, okay. I’ll be over in thirty minutes. The traffic is brutal.”

“No, no. I need to get out of the house. Let’s meet at ’The Place‘ downtown. Is that okay? I’ll call ahead and get my usual table.”

“Sure. We’ll see you there.”

I took a hot shower and pulled my hair into a ponytail. It’s about the only thing I could muster without Ollie, and I just didn’t have the energy to put forth any real effort. I threw on a pair of dark skinny jeans, a tank top with a loose overshirt that hung off the shoulder. The outfit was completed with a pair of silver ballet flats. Jewelry was too much to think about. Bare, low-key Aspen would have to do. Grabbing the biggest pair of Jackie O. sunglasses I could find to cover my puffy eyes, I was out the door in twenty minutes.

London and Tripp were already seated when I got there.

“Hey.” London jumped up and hugged me tight.

Tripp pulled me into a full-body embrace as well. I loved these people. They were two people I could be myself with. I didn’t have to hide the fact that I was hurting with them. They knew just by looking at me.

London’s gray-blue eyes scanned my body. “I ordered some comfort food. By the looks of the weight you’ve lost, you could use it.”

My body was on point with my mind. Only when I was about to pass out from hunger did I actually shove down a small bowl of cereal or a handful of almonds. Wine, however, was in great supply and helped to dull the ache I felt when I spent any time thinking about Hank. Stupid cowboy!


“How are you?”

“Fighting with Ollie,” I said.

“I see. So you’ve taken out your anger and hurt on the one man that loves you the most in the universe.”

Tripp shook his head. My eyes narrowed at him.

“Oh, don’t think London’s so innocent. We’ve had some whoppers in our time. Haven’t we, Bridge?”

“True. But in the end, we always come back to one another.” Tripp smiled and nodded. “You and Ollie will make up. I guarantee he won’t even go a day without making amends with you.”

God, I hoped they were right. Fighting with Ollie on top of my breakup was unbearable. I hated that they were consoling me. Technically, I’d instigated the fight and said the harsh words. He was guilty, though. He’d talked to Hank behind my back. That offense deserved a major payback and the silent treatment.

“So what’d he do?” London asked. I explained the entire fight. They both listened and nodded where appropriate, letting me finish my entire side of the story until the food and drinks arrived.

“Are you ready to talk to Hank?” London asked.

Just the mention of his name hit my heart like a sledgehammer. Saying I missed him was like saying a person misses a limb when it’s been amputated. Hank was ever there. His presence permeated all the space around me. The wretched tears pooled and I did my best to hold them back.

“I don’t know. Honestly, I figured he’d have moved on by now.” I shrugged.

“I spoke with him,” London said softly, and my head whipped back to hers so fiercely I worried I’d given myself a crick. Her eyes were downcast. Jesus! Was everyone talking to my ex besides me? “He told me everything that happened. Of course, it was his version. I really think you ought to give him a listen. Might change the way you feel,” she hedged.

Tripp’s hand came out and held mine. “Bridge wasn’t trying to hurt you, Pen. He came to the loft unannounced. Begged to talk to London, and I broke down and let him in. She was pretty pissed at me. London nodded frantically and sucked on her straw, biting the thing to oblivion. It was such a disgusting habit of hers, gnawing on straws until they were unable to function properly.

“Do you want to know what he said?”

I shrugged, trying to pretend nonchalance, though I was burning to hear anything about my beloved cowboy.

“He said he loved you. Said what you saw was a mistake.” My eyes darted back to hers. “He also said that the chick was in the past and she needed to stay there. Said he told her as much.”

“Yeah, well that’s not the way I saw it. Who are you gonna believe?” I gritted through my teeth.

“Pen, I’m on your side. What the hell!” Her blue eyes were shining so bright it was as if you could see through them. “I’m always on your side. I don’t care who’s right or wrong. I only know what he told me and how miserable you are.” Her tone softened and I knew she meant well. Everyone did.

“So, you think I should talk to him?” Both she and Tripp nodded. “I wouldn’t even know what to say,” I whispered as I lost the battle with my emotions. Tears scuttled down my cheeks.

London rushed around the table, plopped herself in my lap, and pulled off my glasses. She held my cheeks in her cool hands and wiped the tears away. I held her by the waist as she searched my brokenhearted gaze. Tears ran down her face. She was never able to see someone she loved in tears. She claimed it was her empathic ability. I believed it was her pure heart.

“I love you. Tripp loves you. Ollie loves you. Dean loves you. Mom, Dad, Rio all love you. And more than all of those people put together, Hank loves you.”

The sobs wracked my body and my sister held me as I cried into her chest. I didn’t care that the tables surrounding us were probably watching the train wreck in front of them. Crying, releasing all the ache I had pent up while my sister held me, was cathartic to my bruised soul. After what felt like eternity, I was all cried out. My tears dried, but London still kept me close, humming into my hairline, rocking me lightly.