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ON MONDAY, I FOLLOW Fallon to work because I crave to see her – she’s cutting me out of her life, and I hate it – and because I don’t trust her. I make sure I’m not too far behind since I want her to sense my presence, and I think she does because as she walks, she suddenly stops and glances around warily. I smile to myself as I notice that she’s finally more aware of her surroundings.

She’s stunning in her long yellow summer dress, and from this distance, I don’t see any bruising on her face. It’s as if that upsetting week never happened, but I know how her confusing mind works. The moment she feels afraid again, she’ll make irresponsible decisions, and that’s why I need to keep my eye on her. At least that’s what I tell myself, however, the simple truth is that I miss her every second of the day. How can she not miss me when I feel so empty without her? Does she hate me that much?

I tail her to work and am surprised to find her walking back out through the revolving doors after not even an hour inside. Something happened at work; I can see the anxiety in her small frame. While I keep a reasonable distance, I follow her home and watch until she’s safely inside.

Then I call Damian as I get into my car. “Damian, I need you to find out what’s going on at Charity Events. And call me back as soon as you know.”

“Will do,” he confirms and hangs up as I insert the key into the ignition.

When I arrive home, I strip my clothes and pour myself a glass of whiskey to take into the bathroom. Tossing the drink back, I look at the tub I was going to fill, but it’s less appealing now as the memories of Fallon and me in that tub flow through my thoughts.

Returning to my bedroom, I sit on the bed, knowing it’s not smart for me to start drinking at ten a.m.

Fuck this. I’m tired of always thinking about her while she just ignores me.

I go to the kitchen, snatch the bottle from the counter, and stride to my terrace where I proceed to get shit-faced at ten in the morning just to get her out of my mind.

I’m done – starting tomorrow, I’m not tailing her anymore.

***

THE NEXT MORNING ROLLS around, and I wake up with a slight headache. And of course, my drunken resolve to stop following Fallon has vanished. So what do I do? I drive to her apartment just in time to see her exiting but not in the direction of her workplace.

After trailing her to the train station, I jump out of my car and race to the entrance, frantically searching for Fallon after she disappears inside. She’s buying a ticket at the counter to my right, so I wait until she moves to the platform to catch her train.

She goes to platform two, and I read the departure information on the screen – destination is Lake Forest. She better be visiting her parents and not going where I’m afraid she’s heading. But I know Fallon, and since she’s dressed in all black, my guess is that she’s probably going to Danny’s funeral.

I clutch my hands in my hair and give a wild tug as the train departs, and then I return to my car to drive to the train station in Lake Forest.

***

I’M STANDING RIGHT outside the exit doors of the Lake Forest station, waiting for Fallon. The train has arrived because people are starting to come out. She’s one of the last people to walk out, and I step in behind her, inhaling her familiar perfume before speaking, “Hey.”

She spins around so rapidly that I immediately steady her, but she brushes me off roughly.

“What are you doing here?” Her eyes dart around, making sure we’re not alone.

Is she seriously that afraid of me?

This is starting to annoy me. I edge closer to her as she inches back, and I keep moving forward while she’s retreating.

“What are you doing here is the more important question,” I counter evenly as I grip her upper arm and steer her in the direction of my car. “Where are you going?”

She draws in a deep breath, and her eyes drop to my lips and quickly back up. I still have the same effect on her as she has on me. However, she stops suddenly, and I make sure to stand as close to her as possible.

“I’m sure you already know.” She keeps her back straight.

I look past her and lean in to whisper in her ear, “Then you must also know that I’m here to take you back.” And I circle my arm around her waist, hugging her to me while scanning the area around us.

Her sweet perfume wafts around me. She smells so good. My home.

I palm the back of her head when she drapes her arms around my neck and actually returns my embrace. I nuzzle her hair and breathe her in.

“I want to say goodbye to Danny, Luca,” she mutters.

“I get that, but it’s not safe. We have to leave.”

“No. Don’t take this away from me too.”

When her soft lips connect with my cheek, a shiver runs up my spine.

“Please,” she adds softly.

She’s trying to be sly!

I sigh and temper my outrage at how she’s willing to play me. “No. Don’t play games with me, Fallon. You will lose.” Pulling back, I place my hands on her shoulders. “Get in the car. You can’t go to the funeral. You can’t take a chance on being linked to anything that might be deemed suspicious right now.”

Her eyes narrow, but she covers her stunned reaction.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“You are,” she snaps. “Here you are, still trying to control everything in my life.”

“No...I think there’s something else. Is there something you need to tell me?” I crowd her again, backing her up against my vehicle.

“I thought you knew everything?!” Her tone is filled with acrimony.

So there is something else. I’ll find out anyway, but it pisses me off that she’s still withholding from me. “Last time, get in the car, Fallon.”

She rounds the vehicle and gets inside, loudly slamming the door closed.

“Don’t vent on my car, please,” I say dryly and gesture to her to buckle up.

The entire drive back, she refuses to even look my way, but I still attempt to spark up a conversation.

“How have you been doing?” I ask.

In return, I get silence.

Gripping the steering wheel, I decide to lay it out there and make myself vulnerable this once. “Talk to me, dolcezza. Mi manchi così tanto. I miss you so much. It feels like I haven’t spoken to you in weeks.”

She sighs and blinks a few times but continues to stare stoically at the scenery outside, completely ignoring me for the entire hour it takes for us to reach her apartment.

As we park in front of her building, she confesses in a soft voice, “I can’t do this, Luca.” And she opens the door to step out, then closes it quietly.

I’m forced to watch her walk away from me again.