Free Fall Forever (Fall For Me) by Melanie Marks

the ground.
    His voice was thick with pain as he
went on, “She’s taking it hard, though—way
harder than I expected.” He stared up at the ceiling, then back at me. “I don’t
want her to end up at the same place as Finn.”
    Startled, I jerked my head up and
caught his eyes. My heart squeezed seeing so much pain there.
    He blanched and looked away.
    Immediately, realization sunk
through me. The guy was full of guilt. Not only guilt about Finn. But now Ava too. Obviously, she was playing the “I can’t
live without you card” and he was afraid it wasn’t all a game.
    His eyes welled with sadness. “She just needs some
time—like you and Finn.”
    I blinked. “Is that what Finn said?”
    He clenched his jaw. “And his mom.”
    A chill ran down my spine. “Finn’s a big boy, Riley. He
doesn’t need his mom to speak for him.”
    “Yeah … but she’s been like a mom to me.”
    I didn’t know what to say to that. She’d sort of been like a
mom to me too. An overbearing one. Riley lost his mom
a long time ago, though. I guess it was different for him.
    I rubbed my eyes. “So time? She thinks time’s going to fix
everything for Finn and me?”
    “That—” he drew in a breath, “and me staying away from
you.”
    “Riley, it’s not going to happen—”
    Porcha knocked on the closed door, interrupting my just
beginning rant about Finn’s mom.
    “We’re getting swamped out here!” Porcha called through the
door.
    Riley turned back to me looking half-apologetic but also
expectant—’cause he was the boss.
      He didn’t need
to say anything. “I’m going,” I muttered.
    “I’ll be out there in a second,” he
said. He watched me leave his office, then gently shut
the door.

 
 
 
    CHAPTER 18

 
 
    Riley
    When Zoey left my office I banged my head against the door,
wanting to bash it through a window.
    I couldn’t resist her anymore. Not since we kissed. Now I
knew what it was like to taste her lips. It had me practically falling to my
knees.
    Now when I was with her it was all I could think
about—the taste of her lips and her warm, moist mouth on mine.
    It was like a sickness for me. An addiction. I needed her kiss.
    And holy smokes! Being trapped in my office with her just
now—man. I’d turned into a lovesick puppy. A loon. Caressing the door where we’d kissed. What was that? I was turning into a cheese-ball.
    And that Ava stuff I was telling her—it didn’t come
out right. I wanted her to know when Ava comes to my house , I don’t kiss her . I haven’t kissed her since I broke
up with her. Not that she doesn’t try. Man, she tries.
But it’s not even hard to resist her anymore. She used to be my crutch—my
go-to fix to keep me away from Zoey. But she just doesn’t do it for me anymore.
    I need Zoey. And Ava can’t help anymore. Nothing can help.
    Finn’s mom had talked about time. How it heals wounds. But
it seems only Zoey can heal my wounds.
    But I guess I can’t ask her to do that.
    I need her…. But she needs Finn.
    (Really the word “love” should be where I used “need.” In both cases. Yeah, I love Zoey.)

 
 
 
    CHAPTER 19

 
 
    Zoey
    Being alone in the office with Riley had gotten my heartbeat
pumping, and it sure didn’t help me get my mind off his kiss. In fact, now it
was all I could think about.
    As a distraction, I tried to concentrate on later tonight. I
had plans—yay. Actual plans. And they didn’t involve me in my pajamas
scarfing down a carton of ice cream. Not tonight.
    I sidled over to Riley at the soda machine, deciding to let
him know that: that I wasn’t just going to sit around wallowing in my Finn
detachment issues (which I actually didn’t have). All my issues these days had
to do with Riley. But Riley still didn’t seem to get that— that I was completely over Finn.
    I still got the sense Riley thought I was just trying to
lick my wounds from Finn cheating on me—but that I would forgive him.
(And Finn’s mom sure