Page 65 of The Fall

TWENTY-TWO

LOGAN

“So, you’ve been gone a lot recently…” I can hear the smile in my mom’s voice. I took the day off to go with her to her doctor’s appointment. The clinical trial she’s been doing seems to be working, and they’re happy with how she’s progressing.

What’s even better is that Mom is feeling better. She doesn’t look tired anymore. She has more energy. Her smiles aren’t fake. I couldn’t be happier.

It also gives her more time to notice that I’m not home most nights. I can’t seem to get myself to leave Savannah’s bed, and until she decides to kick me out, I don’t plan on leaving.

“I do have a job, Mom,” I tell her.

She gives me a side-eyed glance as she smirks. “You know that’s not what I mean. You haven’t been home much in the evenings.”

“Hmm.”

“Hmm? That’s all I get?” she says

“Well, what are you asking, Mom?”

“I’m asking if my son has a girlfriend.” She might as well have said “Duh” after it.

I laugh. I’m honestly surprised it’s taken her this long to ask. “I don’t know, actually. Maybe.”

What Savannah and I have feels important. I know I’m all in, but she’s still skittish. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want a relationship, but we’re together almost every night. And when we’re not together, we’re texting. If that isn’t what a relationship consists of, I don’t know what is. I’m not going to push her, though. I have confidence that she’ll come around.

“Maybe?” she asks.

“It’s… new. We’re still figuring it out.”

She doesn’t look impressed with that answer. “We are talking about Savannah, aren’t we?”

“Yes, Mom,” I admit with a sigh.

“I knew it!”

“Am I that obvious?”

She gives me a knowing look. “Yes. And the night that she was here for dinner, you couldn’t keep your hands off her.”

Yeah, that hasn’t changed. It’s even worse because she still doesn’t want to say anything to Max. Max is really chill, but I think when he finds out Savannah and I are together, the chill will fly right out the window. So, I have to be careful about touching her in public. It makes it feel like we’re a dirty secret, which is not ideal. I want everyone to know I’m hers.

“Yeah, well, it’s kind of complicated because I’m her coach, you know?”

She waves me off. “I’m sure Tati would understand.”

“Maybe Tati would, but what about everyone else? And Max wouldn’t be happy. Anyway, none of that really matters because Savannah doesn’t want a relationship right now. She’s focused on skating and doesn’t need any distractions.”

“You keeping her up late every night seems like a pretty big distraction.”

“Mom!”

“What? It’s not like I don’t know what you’re doing. I was your age once.”

I shake my head. “Yeah, but I don’t want to talk about this with my mother.”

She laughs. “Fine. Just make sure you’re careful. The last thing she needs is to get pregnant.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “For the love of god, Mom. I’m almost thirty. I know how to not get a girl knocked up. Thanks.” Even though we technically could be taking more precautions.