Page 35 of Too Fast To Fall
“How do you want them? Alphabetical by author?”
“They’re already sorted that way, but we might have to make some adjustments.”
“Sounds good.” They went right to work, and they soon had an efficient system where she handed him books and he shelved them.“Can I ask you something?” she asked.
“Sure.”
“Why did you wait so long to do this? I mean, the boxes were sitting right in front of the shelves.”
He drew in a deep breath. He’d been asking himself the same question. “I don’t think I was ready to admit this was my newlife.” He placed another small stack of books on a shelf. “So much had changed, and this house didn’t feel like home. Therewas part of me that thought I’d wake up one day and find out I’d dreamt the whole thing.”
She smiled and nodded. “I felt the same way after everything fell apart with Kyle. I moved out of his place and into the world’scrappiest apartment. I’d wake up in the morning afraid to open my eyes. I kept hoping it was all a bad dream.”
It was remarkable how a dog nanny and a Formula One driver could have such similar reactions to upheaval in their lives. Perhapsthat was why he was so drawn to Piper. Something deep inside him recognized the same qualities in her. “You don’t still livein the crappy apartment, do you?” He hated the thought of her not having a nice place to live. One that matched her disposition.
“I don’t. The place I’m living now is way nicer.”
“Oh, good.”
“Uh, sorta. I had to move back in with my parents.”
“Oh, no.”
“That’s part of why I took this job. The money will help me get a new place.” She closed her eyes and shook her head for amoment, as if she couldn’t believe her life had turned out this way. Again, he could relate. He’d had so many of those momentsin the past few months.
“Am I paying you enough? Remember, I said I’d give you a bonus to cover the fee you have to pay to your agency.”
Piper shook her head so frantically it made her hair messy. “You’re being more than generous. I wouldn’t feel right askingfor more. Believe me, you’re helping me a ton. I’ll be able to move out of my parents’ house after I get home. I’m lookingforward to it, too. I get to pick out a new place. Maybe get a dog of my own.”
“That sounds nice.” He wasn’t sure why, but this picture she was painting for him, albeit pleasant, rubbed him the wrong way.It wasn’t that he didn’t want to imagine her life improving; it was that he wasn’t ready to watch her go. She’d made a markeddifference in his life in very little time. And the thought of searching for a new dog nanny seemed hopeless. He doubted he’dever find anyone as perfect for Gus as her.
Piper opened the last box. “No more books. Looks like framed photos.”
Emilio knew exactly what she’d come across. “We can put those in the closet.”
It was too late. Piper was already inspecting them. “Aww. Look. It’s little you in a race suit holding a trophy. Looks likea go-kart track. Is this your parents with you? How old are you?”
Emilio couldn’t contain the smile that crossed his face. The photo held one of his fondest memories. “Yes, that’s my mom anddad. It’s at a little track outside of Barcelona. I think I’m five? Or six? I started karting young.” He took the photographfrom her. He was quickly pulled in to the bittersweet nostalgia of seeing such a happy version of himself.
“Your parents look so proud. And they’re holding hands. I’m sorry things didn’t work out between them.”
“Me, too.”
“That’s got to be difficult. Your parents splitting when you’re older.”
“I think everyone expects me not to be upset because I’m not a kid anymore. But I’m stilltheirkid.”
“Of course. Their relationship was the foundation of your entire childhood.”
“A childhood that revolved around racing. Now it’s hard to look back and feel good about it. Plus, it makes me question thewhole idea of romantic love. How do two people walk away from each other after so long?”
“You never know what’s really going on in someone’s relationship.”
“I think being an only child makes it worse. I sometimes wonder if I imagined the whole thing.”
“Oh, God. Of course, you feel like that. You don’t have anyone to corroborate your own history. And no one else saw theirmarriage the way you did.”
“Exactly.”
