Page 69 of Free Fall

Lowell’s brows do a strange little dance—surprise, maybe? I can’t tell. “Going well.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear it.”

“Speaking of your dick of an ex,” I interrupt the boring pleasantries and turn back to Rye.

“I don’t think we were, actually.”

“We were before Lowell sat down,” I remind him. “Anyway, do you think you’d want to housesit for Peggy Jo and her cats? It might make Andrew go easier on you for visits with Jeanie if you had a real place to live.”

“Where’s Peggy Jo going?” Lowell asks.

“To Georgia. She’s visiting her daughter, Bella. She’s having a baby.”

“Sorry, I can’t,” Rye says, chewing on a tapioca bubble. “I’m allergic to cats.”

“You could take allergy meds,” Sejin suggests.

“That’s okay for a few hours from time to time, but I can’t take them every day. Plus, with my new YOSAR volunteer position, I’m required to stay closer to the park. Peggy Jo’s place is too far out.”

That’s not the answer I was hoping for. I sip my coffee and try to think of counter-arguments, but there are none to be made.

Lowell stretches his arms up high, shifting in his seat, and he makes a soft, pleased sound that gets my attention. He’s looking less “archangel” fierce today and more like a confident king of a man, soaking in the sun from the window. I haven’t seen him like this since before his divorce, maybe not even then.

“You’re relaxed,” I observe, wishing I had another cinnamon roll. They were good. “Finally get laid?”

Lowell’s lips tug up at the corner. “Maybe I just got a good night’s sleep. How about you?”

“Everyone at this tableknowsI’m getting laid.” I gesture at Sejin meaningfully and take his hands. “And he is too.”

Sejin’s cheeks are flushed when he pulls his hands away, but we stare at each other and the heat flies between us. Rye starts making gagging noises, while Lowell chuckles under his breath. I’d like to get out of here, but we still haven’t eaten anything substantial. I’m starting to wonder if we really need to… I have chips and salsa back in the van if we need sustenance later. Getting Sejin naked and underneath me feels way more important than good nutrition.

Lowell mutters, “It’s always hard to think about anything else when it’s new, isn’t it?”

I pause, realizing that he’s right. I’ve barely thought about Heart Route since I picked Sejin up on the bike last night. I watch as Sejin catches his hair back in another hair tie he’s fished from his pocket, and my heart catches in my chest. I’m gonna grab that hair, hold it tight, and do unspeakable things to Sejin’s mouth and dick and ass. My pulse flutters as our eyes meet again, and he smiles softly. His shy little dimple is too much for me.

Sejin’s stomach gurgles loud enough to be heard over the clank and clang of silverware and murmurs of the crowd.

“When are you going to get Pete to make that turkey with bacon-and-bacon sandwich?” I don’t want him keeling over onme mid-sexcapade. I need him to have some stamina so I can do all the things I want to do to him today. I have to try to get him out of my system enough to focus on Heart Route tomorrow.

“Are you two hungry?” Sejin asks Lowell and Rye.

They both shake their heads. “I had a big breakfast,” Rye says.

“Me too,” Lowell agrees.

Now it’smystomach’s turn to protest, and it growls loudly. “Wait here,” Sejin says to me, and darts into the back of the café again, ignoring his boss’s loud gripe that he shouldn’t be there if he’s not working.

“You’re smitten as a kitten,” Rye teases as soon as Sejin disappears behind the swinging door. He shakes his boba at me, rattling the ice and tapioca beads.

I shrug. “If you kissed him at sunrise on top of Pothole Dome, you’d be smitten too.”

“Ooh, is thatromanceI hear you describing?”

I grimace. “Yeah. I think so. Gross, huh?”

Rye laughs.

“It sounds like a good morning,” Lowell counters, his gaze going distant and sad again. “It’s been a long time since I’ve watched the sun come up with someone special.”