Page 84 of Falcon’s Forever

She smiles faintly. “Did you mean it? What you said about Falcon?”

I know exactly what she’s asking. “I meant what I said.”

“That you’re done?” Sarah asks.

“For now,” I clarify.

She nods without pushing or looking disappointed. “Okay.”

Her easy acceptance makes me curious. “Why did you ask?”

“Because you look sad that he didn’t come,” Sarah explains.

So much for subtlety.

“I told him not to,” I remind her.

“No,” Sarah says carefully. “You told him you were done. That isn’t the same thing.”

“He could have come anyway,” I point out. “He shouldn’t have, though,” I add before either woman can answer.

“I know,” Sarah says. “I mean, I understand.”

She picks at the edge of her sandwich wrapper. “He listened to you,” she continues.

“Yes,” I agree.

“That’s good?” Sarah asks.

“Yes,” I confirm.

“But part of you still wishes he hadn’t?” she asks.

I open my mouth, but nothing useful comes out.

Frankie decides to be helpful for once. “Welcome to relationships.”

“This isn’t a relationship,” I argue.

“That has never stopped feelings from being inconvenient,” Frankie replies.

I take another drink of coffee. “I don’t want him here.”

Neither woman says anything.

I stare into my cup. “I also want him here.”

“Both things are fine,” Frankie says gently.

“You say that a lot,” I mutter.

“Because you keep trying to force everything into one answer or the other,” she tells me.

I look toward Emily’s door. “I can’t trust him.”

“That’s different from not loving him,” Frankie says.

“I know,” I reply.