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Fallon’s hands trembled. She stood outside Savannah’s door, finally having forced herself to have the courage to show up when she realized Savannah had left. She’d left with Saylor and Tia’s blessing, but that hadn’t made the trip here any easier.

If she didn’t get over herself quickly, then she wasn’t ever going to knock on the door. With one last doubt, Fallon raised her fist and knocked. Now she just had the inevitable wait, wondering if Savannah would be willing to talk to her or not, the fear that she would be told to go in the opposite direction before they could finish the conversation that they’d never fully started.

The lock clicked and the door creaked open.

“What are you doing here?” Savannah’s shoulders were stiff.

Fallon couldn’t tell if that was defensiveness or genuine surprise that Fallon would show up. “I thought we should talk.”

“We probably should have done that weeks ago.”

Fallon nodded, folding her hands neatly in front of her. “You’re right about that. But I’m here now.”

Savannah bit her lip and flicked her gaze over Fallon’s body. “You left the party.”

“They’ll have more fun without me. I’m not exactly the life of the party like Tia is.” Fallon’s body couldn’t wait for permission,and she tried to move forward, but her brain stopped her just in time. She wasn’t going to force her way into Savannah’s apartment.

“Brinley’s here.”

“Oh.” Fallon glanced behind Savannah even though she couldn’t see Brinley standing there. But she understood the warning. Now wasn’t the time for this conversation. But when exactly were they supposed to have it?

“You can come in, I just don’t want certain things discussed in front of her.” Savannah kept her hand firmly on the doorknob. “So we can talk after she goes to bed. It shouldn’t be too much longer.”

“Okay.” A little hope flared in the center of Fallon’s chest. That had been what she’d needed. Confirmation that they were going to at least talk and not just avoid or ignore like they’d done since they’d met. Fallon had been a little too good at talking around the issues at hand.

“Did you eat at the party?” Savannah asked as she opened the door wide enough for Fallon to walk inside.

“I didn’t.” Fallon hadn’t had much of an appetite when she’d seen Savannah, and it had disappeared completely when she’d come out and found out that Savannah had left without even talking to her.

As briefly as she could, Fallon slid her fingers down Savannah’s arm to her hand and squeezed as she walked past. Savannah seemed to relax at that. Standing in Savannah’s kitchen had come to feel almost as natural as standing in her own.

Fallon opened her mouth, hoping that she’d be able to start the conversation, but she stopped when Brinley stepped into the kitchen, her hair wrapped up in a towel and her jammies hanging from her body.

“Fallon!” Brinley squealed. She raced forward and wrapped her arms around Fallon’s waist in a hug. “Mom didn’t say you were coming.”

“She didn’t know,” Fallon answered, squeezing Brinley back. Since when had she become so close to Brinley, or did she act this way with everyone?

“Mom, can I stay up late? Now that Fallon’s here?”

Savannah shook her head slowly, her arms crossed tightly. She glanced at Fallon, checking in, before she focused back on her daughter. “Not tonight, B. Fallon and I need to talk about some things.”

“Bad things?” Brinley hesitated, her voice suddenly sounding scared.

“No, not bad things.” Savannah forced a smile to her lips.

So that was what it looked like. Fallon hadn’t ever been sure she’d see it. But this was Savannah stressed, hands down. She was hiding something from Brinley, and Brinley wasn’t completely aware of that fact.

The pounding on the door startled them. Brinley whimpered and jumped a full foot toward Fallon. Instinctively, Fallon put her hand on Brinley’s shoulder to offer what comfort she could while looking directly at Savannah.

“Forrest,” Savannah mumbled, shaking her head.

“I’ll take Brinley to her room so you two can talk in private.” Fallon didn’t hesitate as she walked down the hallway with Brinley. She kept her hand firmly on Brinley’s shoulder while Savannah stayed put.

This wasn’t Fallon’s fight. She had to remind herself of that. Savannah had to choose what she was going to do and how she was going to handle the situation. Her priority, right now, was to keep Brinley out of it as best as she could. Although in an apartment this small, she imagined that she would still be able to hear every word of the argument.

“He’s mad,” Brinley said as she stepped into her bedroom.

“Sounds like it,” Fallon said as she sat on the edge of Brinley’s bed after shutting the door firmly behind her. The more barriers between them and the argument the better. She really didn’t want to be a part of it.