Falling for Fallon (Oak Hill 2)

DO SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY – BELLY BUTTON PIERCING CAN COUNT, RIGHT? (See… I already helped with number one on your list.)

TRAVEL? (Road trip? Fuck yeah!)

EAT AS MANY TACOS AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT LUPE WON’T BE YOUR COOK ANYMORE AND SHE CAN’T SNEAK YOU FOOD THAT IS DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE IN “YOUR” WORLD. (I know of a great taco place…)

DO SOMETHING RECKLESS- SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL ALIVE BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU WON’T FEEL THAT FIRE WHEN YOU’RE MARRIED TO DEREK. (Reckless is my middle name, darlin’)

HOOK UP WITH SOMEONE – MAYBE MORE THAN JUST SOME “ONE” BUT DON’T BECOME A SLUT, FALLON… GROSS. (I can definitely help you with this one… ;) )

I switched my eyes back and forth between Emmett—standing in front of me looking absolutely perfect with his gray t-shirt, muscles, chiseled jaw, and warm eyes—and the notebook in my hand.

I knew what my answer should have been. I should have said, “Absolutely not!” because I could already tell how this would work out between us. I’d fall for him. That was a given. He already had me feeling things I had never even dreamt of. And then, Derek would take the plunge, propose, and it would rip me away faster than I could rip that bucket list in two. I would be left dealing with all the consequences of getting wrapped

up in this amazing, hot guy with secret tattoos underneath his shirt who was willing to help me with this crazy list of things I’d randomly written up in an attempt to feel as if I had some control in my life.

I was about to say something—anything, really—because the longer Emmett stared at me, the quicker I felt my hold slipping on my rationality, but then my head snapped to the door. My gaze zeroed in on the doorknob twisting just slightly.

“Fallon?”

My heart galloped in my chest to the point that I felt like I was seconds away from having a heart attack.

“Who’s that?” Emmett asked slowly, tracing my face with his gaze. He must have seen the panic plain as day, because he tilted his head and an expression of confusion and worry formed behind those blue eyes.

“Shit,” I breathed out. “Just… don’t say anything. Okay?”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I heard the door opening further. Quick, think fast!

The door swung open, and I quickly jumped over to the coffee pot, pulled a pod out of the container, and started to make a steaming cup. I had a plan, a shitty one that only took .3 seconds to think of, but it was all I had at the moment.

Derek’s face appeared as soon as he stepped through the doorway. He smirked at me, but then his eyes moved over to Emmett who was standing like he was ready to take a punch. I almost laughed.

“Who’s this?” Derek asked, walking farther into the room.

He wore a domineering stare, his eyes bouncing between the pair of us.

“Oh, hey, Derek. Did you need something? I’m a little busy,” I interjected, taking the attention off Emmett.

He stopped a few feet away from Emmett. Derek’s crisp, white dress shirt was open in the front, showing off his bare chest. “An answer for an answer?”

I held back my eye-roll and moved my attention back to the cup of coffee I was fiddling with.

“This gentleman came by to drop off my ID from the other night. I left it at a restaurant when I’d paid with my credit card, and he took the time out of his busy day to bring it back to me so I could ease my worries. I’m making him a cup of coffee to show my gratitude.”

What? Don’t judge! It was the best plan I could think of in a matter of a few seconds!

“How nice of him…” Derek intoned.

“And now you answer my question. Did you need something?” I asked again, sliding the cup over to Emmett. I couldn’t even manage to glance at his face. He stayed eerily silent, and I could only imagine what was going through that head of his.

I glanced back at Derek, waiting for the response that I wasn’t sure I even wanted.

He smiled. “I told you I was stopping by today.”

“That’s right. What did you want to talk about again?” I tried to act nonchalant, like my heart wasn’t actually trying to climb out of my chest to get away from the amount of stress eating away at my body, but I was certain Derek could sense that my story was bogus. I was acting too cordial.

Derek looked back over at Emmett, and his face was filled with confusion. It was almost like he could read my mind.

He let out a heavy sigh. “I came to tell you, dear, that I want you to be my plus one for the gala next week.”