There was no denying it and no stopping it. Erin was falling head over heels for the woman lying beside her, and she’d never been more terrified of anything in her entire life. She needed to share all this with Blair, but was struggling to put her feelings into words. How did she explain that she wanted Blair more than anything in the world, but didn’t know if she could take the leap yet? How did she tell her that she had dreams of what their life together would be like but wasn’t ready to make those dreams a reality? Even as Erin said it in her head, it sounded completely crazy. But if anyone would understand, it was Blair. Not because she had experienced any of the same things Erin had, but because she was the most understanding person Erin knew. One more reason to take this leap (but also another factor that would make the potential fallout that much worse).

Erin took a deep breath and then blew it out. She just needed to say all of this out loud and get Blair’s input on it. “No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop myself from falling for you more and more.”

A wide, almost childlike smile spread across Blair’s face as she squeezed Erin’s hand and rolled onto her side to stare into her eyes. “Maybe you should stop trying. Maybe it’s time you finally let yourself fall.”

“I… I want to. I really do. I’m not trying to lead you on. I promise. My feelings are very real. I just—”

Before Erin could finish her sentence, her phone started to ring. As much as she didn’t want to, she stood from the bed to find it, because it could be about Nolan. “Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. I know you have to make sure Nolan is okay.”

Erin fished her phone out of her discarded shorts and found it was the number for the indoor playground facility where Nolan was having his birthday party. As much as she didn’t feel like talking to them right now, she also didn’t have a choice since the party was a week-and-a-half away.

“Hello?”

“Hi, is this Erin Corcoran?” the person on the other end of the phone asked, their voice sounding weirdly nervous.

“This is her.”

“Hi. Yes. I’m calling about your son, Nolan’s, birthday party. It appears we somehow double-booked that day.”

Erin scoffed. “You double-booked and didn’t realize it until a week-and-a-half before?” She didn’t like getting an attitude with people just trying to do their job, but she was so frustrated right now, she didn’t know how to hold it in.

“Yes. I’m very sorry. We have multiple party planners, and it seems they didn’t communicate. There are a few options.”