Page 15 of You Fall First

“When you were in the bathroom changing TJ,” I add.

Kendal tips her head. “You didn’t mention that.”

Noah’s smile falters, just slightly. “Dutton and I were only there for a few minutes, but I think the kids shared the same rabbit for a while there.”

“Rowan and Wally are in the den with their dad now,” Kendal says. “I can take Dutton back there, if that’s okay with you.”

Dutton looks up at Noah, his big brown eyes wide.

“You want to go play, buddy?” Noah squats to his level, like he’s checking to see if Dutton’s actually comfortable with the idea. “No pressure.”

Dutton nods shyly.

“Okay, cool.” Noah ruffles his head, and my heart squeezes. This man takes his nephew to the petting zoo and lets ladies bid on cutting his hair for fun. Not bad. Also, not anything I can risk being interested in.

Kendal rises from the couch, prepared to take Dutton down the hall, when a series of loud whoops sounds, and Rowan and Wally burst into the living room.

Tim is chasing them, still wearing the baby and roaring like a lion. At the same time, Landry and Brock materialize in the doorway, followed closely by Sayla and Dex. When the glass slider across the room flies open, my dad lopes in from the yard, sweaty and disheveled from mowing the lawn.

“What the …” He blinks at everyone like a mole caught in daylight, and my mom scurries into the room with a pitcher of iced tea and a stack of cups.

“I thought I heard extra voices,” she says.

While Dex makes quick introductions, she grins at the people taking over half the house.

“I think everyone’s here now,” she chirps afterward. “Lewis? Go clean up so we can eat.”

He scratches his dirt-streaked forehead. “What’s with the crowd, Maggie? Did I miss something?”

“Don’t be silly.” She dismisses his question with a gentle scoff. “We’ve got a few extra people for dinner. Is that a problem?”

He shrugs. “Not if there’s enough garlic bread.”

“We’ve got two whole loaves,” I say. “Should be plenty for you, Dad.”

“In that case, I’ll be right back.”

While he shuffles upstairs, I hazard a quick peek at Noah. I expect him to be focused on Dutton or maybe even assessing my father. Instead, he’s looking directly at me.

“Two whole loaves, huh?” His forehead lifts. “That is a lot of bread.”

Then he smiles.

And a stomach’s worth of butterflies flutter back.

Chapter Four

Noah

Jo’s right.

There is, in fact, plenty of garlic bread. There’s also plenty of debate about where everybody should sit.

Maggie puts Dutton with Rowan and Wally at a Little Tikes table “for the big kids.” Then Sayla and Dex claim one side of the adult table next to Landry and Brock. Across from them, Kendal and Tim flank the baby in a high chair. The head of the table goes to the hosts, which leaves the opposite end free for the only singles in the group.

The ones who aren’t partnered up.

Me and Jo.