Worth the Fall(30)

“I know. So am I.” They’d already discussed her plans. He just hadn’t made his own entirely clear. There was no way in hell he was letting her go by herself.

She tilted her head and gave him a look. “You want to go to the water park?”

“I love water parks.” True, but more importantly he didn’t know what kind of place it was. Was it safe or shady? Were the rides inspected? Was it a hangout for druggies and child molesters? She probably wasn’t even supposed to be on water slides.

“You know we’re meeting my friends, Angie and Joe and their five children, who I love dearly but are self-proclaimed holy terrors.”

“Great.” He wanted to meet her friends.

“We’ll be gone all day. Seriously. We won’t be back until after dinner.”

“Sounds fun.”

Abby sighed and pursed that kissable mouth, probably trying to think of more reasons he wouldn’t want to come. “Wait. I bet you’re one of those people who feels the need to break every rule in order to have fun, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, trying his best to look innocent.

“You know exactly what I mean,” she said, placing a sassy hand on her cute little hip. “They say stay seated and you take that as a personal challenge to stand. They say keep your hands in and you try to…I don’t know what, but something bad.”

“Okay, I confess. My brothers and I didn’t always think staying seated in the raft was the best way to experience a water slide. But I promise to be good.”

The playfulness fell away. “You know Jack wants to do everything you do.”

“I know.” And very soon he wouldn’t be there for Jack, or any of them. “I promise to follow every rule.”

The way she was looking at him he wondered if she might be thinking the same thing.

“So, what time are we leaving?”

“Nine.”

“I’ll see you then. Good night.” He waited until she was inside before walking to the elevator, the two sides of his mind raging at each other. What the hell was he thinking?

That he wanted to make sure she and the kids were safe. That he wanted more time with her. And, if he was honest, that he wasn’t ready to spend a day without her. But was spending more time together the best thing for either of them?





Chapter 9


“Jack, get in the car.”

Matt hadn’t been at their door at nine. At ten minutes past, the car was loaded. It was time to go.

Jack continued to scour the parking lot for Matt. “He’s coming.”

She was eight years old again, waiting for yet another foster parent who’d forgotten to pick her up from school. Possibly forgotten she even existed. Wouldn’t be the first time. “Jack, get in the car. Now.”

“No. He said he’s coming. He is.”

“Maybe he’s wost,” Gracie said, leaning out the open door from her car seat. “We can get him, Mommy.”

Absolutely not. And she wasn’t waiting. For anyone. “Jackson Moore, get in the car.”

Annie sat buckled and staring straight ahead. She’d never asked about her father and she didn’t inquire about Matt, just accepted it. Almost like she’d known.

This is why it’s better to be alone. This is why—

“There he is!” Jack yelled. “I knew you’d come.”

Abby looked back to see Matt’s athletic form jogging across the parking lot. Her heart did a nosedive as she watched her son race over the pavement and launch himself into Matt’s arms.

Matt jogged the rest of the way with Jack over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Her son’s face was one big smile. “Mom didn’t think you were coming, but I knew you would.”

He stopped in front of her, grinning like a kid himself. “Sorry I’m late. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” He rubbed his knuckles against Jack’s head, swung him to the ground, and poked his head in the open back door. “Hey, rug rats.”

“Hi, Matt. I said we should get you and Mommy said no and she wooked weally sa—”

“Let’s go.” Abby cut off Gracie’s recap.

Matt cocked his head, giving her a look before boosting Jack into the Suburban, leaving him to find his seat and get buckled. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she said, trying her best to look like nothing about this situation was unexpected. Not his being here and definitely not her caring when he wasn’t.

“Want me to drive?”

She held out the keys and was already turning away when he grabbed her hand.

“Abby.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry you thought that.”