Page 118 of Falling Together

“Josh.”

“Right. Isn’t he friends with him?”

“Yeah, but he misses LA. I mean, what can I say? We’ve been here since the summer and he’s given this place a shot. He wants to go home.”

Ice spreads through my veins. “Okay. When would he leave?”

“We’d leave next week when he planned on going.”

“We?”

I suck in a deep breath, not liking where this is going.

“I can’t let him go on his own. I don’t trust that Kari isn’t going to pull some stunt on him and end up leaving again.”

“Have you talked to her?”

I drop down into the barstool, afraid my legs will no longer hold my weight.

“Briefly. She said she wants him home with her.”

“But why do you have to go?”

“He’s my son, Georgia. I can’t leave him.”

The wind leaves my sails. “And what about him?” I point to my belly. “Does he not count because he’s not here?”

“Fuck,” Grant mutters. “That’s not what I meant, Georgia.”

“Then what did you mean?”

I’m trying not to get annoyed with him, but I am.

“What if something happens when he goes there? I need to be there for him. He needs me.”

“I need you, Grant. We both do.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose, a pained look on his face. “Georgia, I don’t know what to do.”

“It seems like you’ve made up your mind.”

Grant walks around the counter and grabs my hands. “I don’t want to leave you, but I can’t let him go on his own.”

“How long would you be gone for?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t figured that out.”

“Would you be back in time for the baby?” I ask.

The thought of doing this alone scares me. I remember that conversation with him well. Not knowing if he would be in this with me or not. Back then, I was fine doing this on my own.

Now? I don’t know how I’ll cope if Grant leaves. More like when now.

“I hope so.”

“You hope so? Grant, you told me you were all in.”

“I am.” He squeezes my hands, but I pull them back. “But I have to make sure Luke is okay too.”