Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
I hit send before I second-guess myself. I knew the title the second it came to me, but I know it will lead to questions… ones I’m not sure I’m ready to face yet.
Of course, my dad catches on and asks the hard question: Falling… as in falling in love?
And because I can’t lie…
Me: Yes, it’s what I hope to do one day. Fall in love.
You didn’t really think I was about to admit I’m in love with Declan, did you? That would be crazy, right? No, I’m not in love with Declan. It’s too soon for that, but as I watch him sleep, his lids fluttering every now and then and his full lips parted slightly, I can’t help but admit to myself that, no, I’m not in love with Declan, but for the first time in my life, I’m falling… hard. And it scares the hell out of me.
My phone pings with a new text from my dad: You will, sweetheart. One day, you’ll find the right guy, and you’ll feel it. Your heart will beat a little faster, your smiles will get brighter, and butterflies will swarm your belly. And you’ll know every wrong guy was simply leading you to the right one.
As I read his words, I think about the past several days and how every action he mentioned I’ve experienced with Declan. From my heart picking up speed, to smiling and laughing more, to freaking butterflies attacking my belly—they all seem to happen more often when I’m around Declan.
I don’t realize tears are leaking from my lids until Declan, who I didn’t realize had woken up, asks, “What’s wrong?” He goes from being asleep to wide awake, his features expressing his worry. He edges closer, and his thumb swipes across my cheek. “Kendall, talk to me.”
“I…” I choke out. “I think…”
His brows dip in confusion. “You think what? Did something happen?” He glances at the phone in my hand. “Did Kyle text you?”
“No,” I breathe. “I think…” I think I have feelings for you. I say the words in my head, but I can’t make them come out because I’m a damn chicken. “I think I made the right decision by not marrying Kyle,” I say instead.
Declan looks at me like I’m crazy for a moment, then he nods. “Yeah, I agree.” He wipes another tear. “But why are you crying?”
Because I can’t say what I really want to say, I give him a different truth. “I’m naming my next album Falling.”
“Falling?” he repeats.
“Yeah, like falling in love. I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching for the past few weeks, and I realized I said yes to Kyle because I didn’t want to be alone. I wanted to prove I wasn’t broken, so I went along with it when he proposed.
“Everyone in my family is in perfect love-filled relationships. And I wanted that… I want that. But Kyle wasn’t the right guy, and coming to terms with that made me a bit emotional.” I’m also now realizing what it feels like to fall for someone, and the difference is like night and day.
Declan smiles softly and tucks a wayward strand of hair behind my ear. “You just haven’t found the one yet, but all the pieces will fit together perfectly when you do.”
“I know that now. I think that’s why the songs I’ve been writing recently all have a different vibe to them.” Because every one of them is about how I’m slowly falling in love with the man lying in front of me.
“And those songs are amazing,” he says. “Falling is the perfect title for your album, and I have no doubt it will be your best yet.”
“It’s so different…What if my fans don’t like it?”
“They’ll love it because every song you’ve written has come straight from your heart. I’ve watched you every night, putting your heart and soul into every one of those lyrics. They’ll see that. See that you’re evolving and growing, and they’ll love that you’re sharing your innermost thoughts with them. You’ve allowed them in, opened up every part of your life to them, which isn’t something many people do.”
“You’re right,” I agree, then change the subject, not wanting to risk blurting out that every song I’ve written lately has been with him in mind. “Speaking of which… my dad texted me. He wants to know when we’ll be back so he can get things scheduled for the video and promo for ‘Drunk on Your Love.’ He wants to release it soon as a single and preview for my next album.”
“You told your dad you’re with me?”
“Well, no… I told him I’d speak to you, but he doesn’t know that means in person instead of over the phone.”
His lips tip down, but he quickly hides his displeasure. “I’m down for whatever. Since the band is on hiatus for the foreseeable future, my calendar’s wide open.”