Page 32 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

She scowls. “All the time or just when we’re drivin’?”

Noah chuckles, and I shoot her daggers from my seat.

“Why do chicks get a kick outta being rude to me? Do I have a sign on my forehead that saysI hate puppiesor somethin’?” At least that’d be a valid reason.

“Well, that just means they like ya,” Gramma Grace says, passing out slices of her strawberry cheesecake.

“Nah, I don’t think so. Ellie would stab me in the eyeball, twist the knife a dozen times, and then stab my other eye without a second thought.”

“Thanks for the visual…” Mallory slides her dessert plate away from her.

“I’m sure there are plenty of single ladies who’d love to date you,” Mom says.

Great, now we’re going to discuss my dating life.

“My friend’s mom is single,” Mallory says.

I glower at her. “Just how old do ya think I am?”

She shrugs. “I dunno. Some men like older women.”

“Cougar hunters! That’s what they’re called,” Wilder explains. “Wouldn’t mind findin’ me a cougar.”

“Wilder,” Dad echoes his name, gives him a firm look, and then Wilder bows his head to focus on his cheesecake.

“Anyway…subject change. When are y’all havin’ another baby, Fisher?”

His head pops up, clearly trying to stay out of the conversation.

“We just had one last year!” Noah exclaims. “You boys are up next.”

“I wouldn’t mind more grandchildren.” Mom smiles as she holds Poppy, sneaking a dollop of cream cheese in her mouth.

“Just wait for the next cougar to be desperate enough for Wilder and he’ll knock her up in no time,” Waylon says.

“Waylon,” Dad mutters his name, and I swear to God, they’re the reason he’s going bald.

“Would you rather I date someone twenty years younger than me?” Wilder asks.

Again, Fisher looks up as if he’s trying desperately to stay out of it.

“Ew, that’d be gross!” Mallory makes a face.

I snort. “And illegal.”

Once everyone finishes eating, Mom and Noah bring out tubs filled with scrapbooks and supplies. I’ve been working on one of the family albums that Mom put me in charge of and thankfully, I’m almost done.

“Aww, look, Mallory when she was cute and sweet,” I taunt, holding up one of the pages. It was our first professional family shoot after Mallory moved in with us.

Her parents died in a car accident when she was nine and then she was sent to us. She’s been like a little annoying sister ever since. But I love her. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to lose your parents at such a young age and then be taken from the only home you’ve ever known and thrown into another.

She’s been a great addition to our family, though.

She scowls. “Are you sayin’ I’m not anymore?”

“I’m sayin’…now you’re a little less sweet.” I smirk, nudging her with my elbow again.

“You try being a young woman in a patriarchal world, who is less valued than a man simply because I have a vagina and see howsweetyou are. Next, you’ll be tellin’ me to smile more.”

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