Page 14 of After We Fall

With each back-and-forth of the conversation, I’m drawn just a hint closer to him. Everything in my life revolves around solving problems. For myself. For others. Alone. Even in my solid working relationship with Harlan, the tasks are always for him, not with him. My whole goal is to do everything I can to help in such a way that it makes his life easier. That’s the job, and I’ve loved every minute.

But I’ve never been a partner with someone, working through an issue. There’s something foreign, uncomfortable, but altogether attractive about the process. About Luke.

“With Harlan and Meredith on their honeymoon, the rest of the Holcombes went to Disney World as a post-wedding celebration,” I say. “Other than Hank, all ranching staff are off for the weekend. And the construction crew working on the boardinghouse is also off until Monday. I’m sorry there’s no one for you to interview.”

“Until now.” He steps around me, breaking our small connection, to address the table. “What did everyone do with their time off?”

I bite back a smile. He’s a little bit genius. Get the girls distracted. Get them talking.

Moving in sync with the others, Tanya focuses on the cup in front of her. “Well, it was between seeing my drunk, angry mother or taking Bianca shopping.” She sweeps the red Solo cup a little farther than usual. “I chose Black Friday shopping.”

Luke leans back, cocking a leg to press one booted foot flat against the wall. He crosses his arms while his assessing eyes follow each woman’s movement. “Find anything good?”

Tanya traps her tongue between her teeth in concentration. She’s the most coordinated of the three at this game. “We found a lot of awesome stuff, but Bianca wouldn’t buy anything.”

“It’s not you, it’s me.” The unexpected comment comes from Bianca. Her handling of the cups is more stilted than Tanya’s, but she has a surprising grasp on the rhythm and her head bobs with the beat of the cups.

Interesting. Bianca has three ways to communicate. When she perceives a threat, she doesn’t speak at all. If she’s unsure but wants to participate in a conversation, she speaks in relationship-breakup clichés. It’s not you, it’s me. We’ve seen this choice of communication style the most since her arrival at the halfway house. But if she feels safe, her brilliant, wise inner self draws you to her. I’ve only been privileged to witness it once, and I hope I’m afforded the opportunity to see that beauty again someday.

It’s noteworthy she’s chosen to speak in Luke’s company tonight. It says a lot about him. I hope he honors her effort in return.

Luke pulls a mint out of his pocket and pops it in his mouth, then shifts his focus. “What about you, Finley?”

Finley is uncharacteristically quiet this evening, but she doesn’t lack coordination in the game. I don’t think she’s imbibed any substances, but something isn’t quite right.

Tanya lets out a judgmental-sounding “Hmph.”

Finley bangs her cup down and bursts out, “We were in a group, Tanya.”

“Whatever.” Tanya doesn’t miss a beat. “You know your ex is bad news.”

Technically, Finley isn’t supposed to see her old boyfriend alone, but it doesn’t bode well for her to have seen Marcus at all.

Bianca claps and sweeps through the game while she says, “You can’t help who you fall in love with.” Her tone mocks the clichéd dating sentiment.

Luke narrows his eyes.

I temper my original annoyance at this setup. His little game might prove productive after all.

Finley falters her table taps, and her cup almost falls. “I’m not in love with Marcus anymore. I just miss him as a friend.” She shoves the cup over, and as soon as the pattern starts again, she rejoins the game.

Tanya, fixated on the game, raises her eyebrows. “As a friend? A friend who sleeps around on you?”

Bianca adds her cliché. “There’s too much of him to be tied to one person.”

“He only cheated once,” Finley says, her tone exasperated.

Tanya’s pained red face grimaces. She slaps both palms on the table, the sound bouncing off the walls of the room as she brings the game to a complete halt. “Oh, okay. How about the time he hit you—he still your friend after that?”

Luke’s torso jerks with the announcement.

Pushing herself up from her chair, Finley throws her cup across the room. It bounces off the wall and falls to the ground. “He didn’t mean it!”

When Tanya stands, she squares her shoulders to face her friend. “Is he still mad at you?”

“He says he’s not mad at me.” Finley shifts back a few inches and picks at her fingernails. “But he’s still upset I chose to come live on the ranch.”

“He’s an idiot if he hasn’t figured out he’s the reason you came to live on the ranch.”