Falling Together (All That Remains #2) Read Online Free Page A

exacerbate the situation by swinging back.”
    “Yet.”
    “Stop
it,” I scold. “You aren’t going to hurt Joseph. You couldn’t live with yourself.
In a few days it’ll all blow over.” Deep down, I doubt my optimistic outlook.
It’s likely this incident will have far reaching consequences. I’m confident
Airen and Joseph will reconcile their differences, but after witnessing the
heartbreak on Troy’s face when he realized the depth of Joseph’s feelings for
Airen, I’m not so sure about the future of Joseph and Troy’s relationship. It’s
a relief when Troy drops us at our door and hurries home to tend to Joseph.
    For
two days Joseph and Airen have managed to completely avoid one another. Airen
is moody and short-tempered so I’m not exactly surprised when Troy asks me to
meet him after lunch. I assume he’s dealing with the same issues when it comes
to Joseph. I don’t know exactly what he wants to discuss, but it’s sure to be
an uncomfortable conversation.
    We
sit at the kitchen table, drinking iced tea. “I know you probably don’t want to
get in the middle of it, Abby, but I’m hoping you’ll help me get these two
stubborn jackasses to talk to each other,” he explains, exasperated.
    A
smile blooms on his lips when I chuckle in relief. “They’ll come around, Troy.
They’ve been friends a long time.”
    “Sooner
rather than later, I hope. Joseph has been hell on wheels. He feels so guilty
for punching him, but he’ll never be the first to apologize.”
    “If
you want my opinion, Airen should be the one to apologize. He made a mistake
and caused us all to worry. I don’t think he’s really pissed over the punch. I
think he’s…embarrassed,” I admit hesitantly.
    Running
a hand through his short brown hair, he laughs and replies, “It’s a guy thing.”
    “Stubborn
male pride,” I grumble. “So, any ideas on how to put an end to this pissing
contest?”
    “Lock
them in a room together until they either make up or kill each other?”
    We
laugh together. “They’d both starve to death first. Let me talk to Airen
tonight. He’s had a couple of days to cool down so maybe I can get through to
him.”
    “Thanks,
Abby.” His shoulders relax and he takes a sip of his iced tea. I’m impressed
and touched by Troy’s selflessness. He recognizes the connection between Joseph
and Airen, and I’m sure it’s difficult for him to witness. Still, he’s more
concerned about Joseph’s happiness.
    “Thank
you for helping me find him, and for all the time you’ve spent with Lane. You
and Joseph have been a godsend, Troy.”
    Running
his finger around the rim of his glass, he smiles, looking embarrassed. “I
enjoy having Lane around. He’s adorable, and I’ve never spent much time around
a baby before.”
    “Well,
you’re a natural. He loves you guys.” After a few more minutes of pleasant
conversation, Troy heads home to deal with his grouch while I try to decide
what to say to mine.
    Airen
is preparing for bed, and I’m doing my best not to get distracted by his
oh-so-squeezable behind clad only in dark blue boxer briefs. He smirks when he
catches my gaze.
    “You
were staring at my ass,” he teases.
    “Was
not,” I lie. “I want to talk you about something.”
    “That
doesn’t sound good.”
    “Don’t
you think it’s time you apologized to Joseph?” I ask, getting straight to the
point.
    “Abby. He hit me . You want me to apologize?” His brow furrows as he frowns, and
his lips are thin white lines. After pulling on his sweatpants, he perches on
the edge of the love seat.
    “He
shouldn’t have punched you, but you know he didn’t mean to do it. He was
scared. I kind of wanted to hit you too.”
    “I
said I was sorry, Abby, what more do you want?” he snaps.
    “You
apologized to me, Airen, not him. I understand, and I know you wouldn’t worry
me intentionally, but, just for one second, try to see this from Joseph’s point
of view. He thought the worst, that you