“Ba-”
I cut Trevor off. This was all me. “Don’t get mad at him, Karla,” I told her. “I was the one talking shit, not Trev.”
Her pretty face fell in shock. “Why?” she asked. “Why would you talk shit about her? What’d…” Karla was genuinely stunned, and I felt like shit more so than I already did.
“I was…just trying to work it all out in my head, and…I wasn’t watching my words,” I lamely excused, but then thought better of it. “Okay, maybe I was being a bit dickish, but I wasn’t trying to be cruel.”
Karla look hurt and that was gutting me. “I…oh, God,” she cried out brokenly. “I promised her she wassafehere.” Her eyes darted back and forth between me and Trevor. “I told her…I’m the one who told her to come here.I’mthe one who promised she’d be welcomed and protected and you guys…” She placed a hand on her stomach like she was in physical pain. “…oh, God.”
Trevor raced towards her. “Babe-”
Karla looked up at him, and she didn’t look mad, exactly, but more like disappointed. “You don’t understand, Trevor,” she said, cutting him off. “Up until five minutes ago, I was the only person in her life that she had. I was the only person who hasn’t let her down. I…she’ll never trust me again.”
This time, I stepped towards Karla. “I’m sorry, Karla,” I told her, and realized how much I meant it. “I’ll make it right. I’ll-” Commotion in the living room cut me off and had us all heading into the room to see Fallon storming through the living room, all her bags in tow.
“Fallon-”
Fallon cut Karla off. “Thank you, for everything, Karla. But I’m not going to do this,” she announced to the room. Then she looked over at Trevor. “Thank you for allowing me to stay last night.”
Karla rushed towards her. “Fallon, it’s all a big misunderstanding-”
Fallon smirked at her. “Their voices were loud and clear, Karla,” she chuckled darkly. “There’s no misunderstanding here.” Fallon dropped one of her bags and wrapped Karla in a one-arm hug. “I love you, and I’m sorry if I caused any problems.”
Karla pulled back. “Fallon, don’t leave,” she begged.
I watched as Fallon grabbed her bag and turned those blue eyes my way. “I’m sorry I ever met you. And I’m really sorry people like you exist in a world where cynicism outshines compassion,” she said evenly.
I stepped to her because I was very aware this disaster was entirely my fault. “Look-”
“Fuck you,” she spat again, cutting me off and heading towards the front door.
We all kind of stood stuck as she dropped her bag, opened the door, grabbed her bag again, and then walked out of the house. The second it was obvious she wasn’t going to shut the door behind her, Karla, Trevor, and I snapped out of our shock and raced towards the door. As soon as I cleared the doorway, I saw Jacob’s cab idling by the curb. I watched as he jumped out of his cab when he noticed Fallon was carrying all her bags.
I knew I wasn’t doing myself any favors, but I also knew if I left things like this, the guilt would eat me alive and I’d never be able to face Karla again without that guilt reflecting in my eyes. I raced down the walkway as Fallon and Jacob were placing her bags in the trunk of the cab.
“Fallon, wait a second,” I said as I approached her.
She whirled around to face me, and I knew there was no way out of this. I couldn’t undo the way she saw me. “Stay away from me, Mr. Raynes,” she hissed, and I irrationally got irritated.
“Quit calling me that!”
Fallon ignored me. “Get away from me!” she snapped.
I stepped to her to-I don’t know what-but that’s when Jacob got involved. He pulled her behind him, and his face was the most serious I had ever seen in all the years I’ve known Jacob. “Mr. Xander, Miss Fallon asked you to leave her alone,” he repeated.
I felt Karla before I heard her. “Fallon, don’t leave like this,” she begged again.
Fallon’s gaze shot towards Karla. “I still love you and I still trust you, Karla. But…I’m not going to stay, making your husband uncomfortable. And I sure as hell am not going to stay to be subjected to…whatever this is.”
Before Karla could say anything more, Jacob had his arm wrapped around Fallon’s shoulders and was shielding her as he opened the cab’s rear door and ushered her inside. Jacob shut the door, finished placing Fallon’s bags in the trunk, and made his way to the driver’s side door. He gave me and Karla a terse nod of acknowledgment before getting in the cab and turning the ignition.
I stared down into the window and Fallon’s face remained facing forward, her expression completely stilled. I watched as they drove off and the rock in the pit of my stomach felt like it was never going to go away.
“What the hell just happened?” Karla mumbled quietly.
I looked down at her. “I’m sorry, Karla,” I said, and I meant every fucking word. “I…I’m not sure what got into me.” Other than my fucked-up day that I took out on someone who hadn’t deserved it.
She looked up at me. “I just don’t understand, Xander,” she replied. “You’re not…you’re notthatperson.” She was right. I wasn’t usually a cruel person. Even if I didn’t believe Fallon, I shouldn’t have been so cold about it.
