Page 21 of You Fall First

“Still, that sucks,” Brock says.

“No, really. Forget about Oliver,” Jo pleads, gathering herself. “He’s nothing, and you and Landry deserve the perfect wedding. I refuse to let some stupid guy from my stupid past be even a little bit of a cloud on your perfect day. Okay? Promise me you all won’t even mention he-who-shall-not-be-named again?”

In unison, everyone besides Jo and me lifts a hand.

“Promise,” they all say simultaneously.

Clearly, this isn’t their group’s first rodeo with dinnertime promises.

“I promise too,” I mutter, but my guts are a mix of emotions. Concern for Jo, curiosity about her ex, and awkwardness at being a part of what feels like a private family moment.

Then my phone starts buzzing in my pocket, making things even worse.

I rise, dropping my head in apology. “Sorry to be rude, everyone, but I’ve been expecting a check-in from my sister.”

“Go ahead, son,” Lewis says. “She’s family. Take the call.”

“Is that Mommy?” Dutton hops up from the kids’ table and skips to my side.

“Hold on, buddy.”

As I swipe to answer, I take a few steps from the table and lower my voice. It’s a lame attempt to be polite to the Michaels family and respect my sister’s privacy, but I still feel uncomfortable. They’re in the middle of dinner and not exactly out of earshot.

“Hey, sis.”

“Hey, NoNo,” she says. “How’s my favorite little guy?”

My chest loosens. Paige using the nickname she came up with for me when she was still in diapers must be a good sign.

“I’m hanging in there,” I say. “Thanks for asking.”

“Not you.”

“Yeah, I know.” I crack a smile. “Dutton and I miss you, but he’s good.” I flash him a quick thumbs-up to prove it. “Aren’t we, buddy?”

“Woody,” he mumbles over a mouthful of bread.

“Of course he’s good,” Paige says. “He’s with Uncle Noah.”

The hitch in her breath tells me she’s exhausted, which comes as no surprise. She’s spent the day packing up an entire household. Leaving her whole life behind.

“So, did everything go okay?” I ask. “The movers got things handled?”

“Oh, yeah.” She sighs. “The movers were fine, but …”

“But what?”

“I’m not so fine,” she tells me. “I’m in the hospital.”

Chapter Five

Noah

My heart bolts into my throat.

“Can Mama FaceTime now?” Dutton tugs on the bottom of my shirt. Before I think twice, my eyes flash to Jo, then back down to Dutton.

“Hold on, bud,” I grit out. “Give me a second, okay?” The poor kid just wants to see his mom, and I get it. Whatever’s going on, I’d do anything to be with her right now.