The Fear of Falling

Chapter Thirty Four

I hurried down the hall, eager to escape the building without Mac swooping in on her broom to claw my eyes out.

The more I thought about her hungry, devilish glances at Gavin, the more steam spewed from my ears.

If it weren't for the echo, I wouldn't have noticed the heavy footsteps trailing after my own.

"Meg," Gavin called for me. His voice carried through the hallway and into my stubborn ears. "Wait."

I didn't.

After all, what was there to say but the ugly things I'd regret in the morning?

"Hey." He followed me, refusing to let me storm away without a discussion. "What was that?" he asked as soon as he caught up.

My heels clicked against the tile floors and then the concrete sidewalk. I splashed through shallow puddles, ignoring the scattered traffic beside me and pretending that I hadn't instigated war with Mac.

Gavin's long strides matched my own.

I clicked my tongue. "I lost my temper."

"Yeah," he scoffed. "No kidding."

"I don't like how she steam rolls over everyone in her way. Sue me." The night air nipped at my bare skin and reminded me of my forgotten sweater.

Fuck.

"Well, you were hurting more than helping."

I fought the urge to stop dead in my tracks. Instead, I continued marching to the apartment.

"I'm serious, Meg. Dr. Williams was sitting at the table next to us. He could have heard you."

I frowned. "I wasn't talking that loud."

"Loud enough for people to look."

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize." A knot formed in my throat. "But I don't regret saying any of it."

He shook his head. "I know she's irritating and gets under your skin, but you can't explode like that."

Explode?

"I just told her she's a bitch, Gavvy. No one even knew I was there with you, so I don't think you should worry about your public appearance."

Gavin stopped just a few feet away from the front door of our apartment. "Never call me that."

I stopped, swiveling on my heel to face him. "Why not? You don't seem to mind when she calls you that."

His face fell. "What do you want, Meg? Really?"

I froze, exhausted and ready for the whole dreadful day to be over. "I want-" You. My voice trailed off before I could force the final word out of my throat. "Her to stay away from us."

Gavin chuckled while tilting his head to the sky. "Well, I'm not sure I can make that happen."

My heart sunk. "Why not?"

"Because we're going to be coworkers."

"That doesn't mean tha-"

"Yes, Meg. Yes, it does," he cut me off and stared at the shattered expression on my face as if it was a nuisance.

I nodded and gathered my voice for a final time. "Okay," the response came out as shaky as my hands, but if he noticed, he didn't care. "I understand."

I turned away and marched up the apartment stairs.

****

By the time I reached my bedroom and shut the door behind me, my limbs felt as if they were filled with sand.