Falling for the Beast (A Modern Fairy Tale Duet 2)

“Right. I should be okay if I stick to the bunny slopes, right?”

Erin had no idea. Skiing had certainly never been part of her family vacations, which had mostly consisted of her mom and her at the beach for a weekend. She suspected even a baby slope would be big enough to terrify the girl who shut her eyes when they crossed a bridge.

“Will you hate me if I say this is a bad idea?”

“No. Because you’re right, and it is a bad idea.”

“But you’re doing it anyway.”

“I love that you get me. I mean, really understand me. You’re a great friend.”

“Hmm,” Erin said, wondering where this was going.

“Like the kind of friend who would help me pack and figure out what to bring.”

Erin stared dubiously at the mountains of clothes. Tank tops, miniskirts. They had their work cut out for them, but it was just the distraction she needed. She didn’t want to think about Blake or his father. She didn’t want to wonder if she’d done the right thing. Blake would be at the Faculty Ball right now, and the fact that Erin couldn’t attend as his date only highlighted the separation, made it feel so much deeper and longer than one more night.

“You’re on,” Erin said, digging into the pile.

She ended up pulling everything out of her closet, as well, matching outfits so she could look cute for their renewed relationship, as well as warm enough not to freeze to death.

Hours passed, and Erin lost herself in the chatter with her good friend. She would miss this when she moved in with Blake. Except she hadn’t agreed to that.

So when Courtney asked her about re-upping the lease, Erin said quickly, “I’m not moving in with him,” and immediately blushed. As soon as she said the words, she knew they were a lie.

Courtney raised her eyebrows. “Want to bet?”

She knew the truth. Even Blake probably knew it was inevitable. Everyone except Erin understood. She’d put him off. Not now, later. We’ll talk about it later.

Now was later, and God, she wanted to be with him. Night and day. Forever and ever, amen. This must be serious, he had said in a teasing tone. With the worry of school behind her, she was damned serious.

“Okay, I might move in with him. And maybe even…I don’t know, marry him. Does that sound crazy?”

“Of course you’re going to marry him. See, when you find a boy who you like, and who you want to have sex with, you have to do the right thing by him. Otherwise he starts to wonder if you’re just using him for his body.”

Erin huffed a laugh. Blake loved when she used him for his body. But that was a good idea. Maybe she could pop the question. It would be worth it just to see the look on his face. Not right now, but soon. Maybe then she wouldn’t feel so guilty about not answering him right away about moving in. Then she might not feel this gnawing emptiness at being apart.

She helped Courtney stuff the luggage full and then sat on it so they could zipper it shut. They loaded her friend’s car together and hugged before she got inside.

Courtney frowned. “Sorry to abandon you so soon after your defense. I should have taken you out for drinks to celebrate. And I made you pack with me. I’m a shitty friend.”

“I don’t mind, sweetie. You have fun. And bring back lots of stories.”

“Always. And I’m still taking you out for drinks when I get back. We’ll get a cab together and get totally wasted.”

Sadness clamped Erin’s stomach as she waved goodbye, and she realized that at least part of her hesitancy was leaving Courtney. She’d been an amazing friend. They would still be friends, but the roommate bond ran deeper. They talked all the time. They knew each other’s secrets. Soon it would be her and Blake. Yes, she wanted that, but she would still miss her friend.

Her phone trilled from inside the apartment. She almost sprinted to answer it. Her mother hadn’t returned a call in days now, and Erin was beyond worried. The number on the screen wasn’t her mother’s. Disappointment tightened her stomach.

“Hello?”

“Hello, is this Erin Rodriguez?”

The officiousness of the tone drew her to full alert. “Yes, that’s me.”

The woman proceeded to introduce herself as the head nurse of the urgent care ward at Lakota County General Hospital. A wave of dizziness swept over Erin, but she gripped the phone tightly and held on.

The nurse’s voice was sympathetic. “I’m calling to inform you that your mother was admitted into our care after suffering a major heart attack.”