Page 54 of You Fall First

She hoists a brow. “I am running low on the Scooby-Doo brand I keep around for Rowan and Wally.”

“Good. So we’re agreed then. And anything left over at the end of the day is yours to keep,” I add.

“I—”

“Uncle Noah.” Dutton yanks on the hem of my shirt. “Can we go now?” He breaks into a big watery-eyed yawn, and my chest goes tight. The memory of last night’s bedtime flashes in my brain. The books. The popsicles.

The purple.

“Sure, bud.” I ruffle his hair. “We can go.”

“Miss Jo too,” he mumbles, and my gaze flicks to her.

“Oh.” She startles.

“You don’t have to,” I tell her quickly.

“Please,” Dutton demands. “I said my manners.”

Jo draws in a long breath, exhales. “I could come over for a bit.” Her eyes find mine. “What do you think?”

I rub the back of my neck. “I think it’s been a long day. A long few days. I think Dutton’s exhausted. We both are. I’m thinking me being the only adult around right now isn’t such a hot idea.”

The truth is, I don’t know if I’m inviting Jo home with us because Dutton needs a familiar face tonight or if I do. He tugs my shirt again.

Nah. Dutton. Definitely Dutton.

“What do you think, Woody?” Jo drops to his level. Tips her chin. “Should I follow you back to your place for a little while? We could read some books. Tell some bedtime stories.”

“Bugs too,” he says, nodding seriously.

“Of course.” Jo’s eyes soften at the corners. “Bugs is your friend now. He can stay with you for as long as you want.”

“Okay.” Dutton presses his cheek to my leg. “I think forever.”

Jo follows us back in her little blue hatchback that’s the same color as her eyes, and before we’ve even left downtown, I’m pretty sure welcoming her home exhibited questionable judgment at best. Instead of maintaining my distance, I’ve intentionally increased her proximity.

At nighttime.

But unlike me, Dutton’s completely unbothered, in the backseat dreaming up an entire fantasy world for his new dinosaur and Bugs. Their imaginary dialogue consists entirely of Rex wanting to borrow the rabbit’s tail. He says he really needs it.

Bugs says no.

Rex asks why.

Bugs says because without a tail his butt would be cold.

Then Dutton giggles.

I check the rearview to make sure it’s actually my nephew back there. This is the happiest laugh I’ve heard from him all day. Then again, I wasn’t with him for a large part of the afternoon. Which gets me wondering if Dutton laughed like this when he was with Jo. If he chattered at her all day. Wait. What am I thinking? He definitely chattered at her all day.

“Uncle Noah,” Dutton chirps. “Guess what?”

I arch a brow. “What?”

“Rabbit butt.”

More giggles.