Page 31 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

“Are you helpin’ your mama today?” I ask Willow. “How dare she wear you like a backpack.”

She giggles as I blow raspberries on her cheek. I know my mom usually watches Willow when Magnolia works, but she must not have been available today.

“Landen Michael,” Magnolia scolds, pushing me back. “You’re too big to be in here with us.”

“Or maybe your trailer’s too small.”

“Either way, I can’t maneuver around you.” She tries to hip-check me to grab a cup, but it’s hardly a push. I step back anyway to give her room.

“You didn’t mind when I was in here playin’ your bodyguard and shot a man to save your life,” I muse, crossing my arms, and yeah, I made a point of saying that loudly in front of Ellie.

Last spring when she was five months pregnant, her ex and his dealer were after her. Since she couldn’t avoid working, Tripp stayed with her during every shift up to the last thirty minutes so he could make his shift at The Lodge on time. For that half an hour, I stayed with her until she closed. But then the dealer found her location before the police could find him. The day he showed up, Magnolia was on her hands and knees looking for something underneath the counter, so he hadn’t seen her when he approached the trailer. When he waved his gun at me, demanding I tell him her location, I pulled out my own gun tucked in the back of my jeans and shot him in the dick.

I hadn’t meant to aim that low, but it was a happy accident. The guy got what he deserved and then went to prison for murdering Magnolia’s ex.

Sugarland Creek labeled me the town hero—which I happily accepted—but Ellie hadn’t seemed to care.Nothingimpresses her.

Magnolia glowers at me. “How long are ya gonna keep bringin’ that up?”

“Till the day I die, baby!” I drawl, stealing a glance at Ellie, who’s looking down at her phone, and then she fuckingyawns.

Goddammit.

“Out!” Magnolia shoves at me.

“I can’t spend a few minutes with my niece?”

“Not when I’m workin’. You wanna see her, walk down twenty steps and come babysit.”

She and Tripp live below me in the ranch hand quarter duplexes, but with our schedules, we only see each other in passing or at Sunday supper.

“Fine, I will tonight. Now make my drink.” I smirk.

“Get in line and Iwill…” she says between gritted teeth, looking toward Ellie, who looks annoyed at me for interrupting. And now there are two more people behind her, waiting.

Well, that didn’t go as planned.

She gives me heryou’re an idiotexpression.

Before I walk out, I kiss Willow’s cheek and then like a dog with its tail between its legs, I go to the back of the line.

Every Sunday night, my parents, siblings, and I get together for supper and scrapbooking. It’s been a tradition for years and even though I’m not a huge fan of decorating a page filled with photos, I get sucked into staying anyway. I don’t mind it, though, since Gramma Grace bakes the best desserts.

Now that two of my siblings are married with a baby, we sit at two tables to accommodate everyone, which means there’s more shouting but also a lot more laughing. It’s always a good time.

“Why’re you sittin’ so close to me?” Mallory scoffs, elbowing my arm.

“Why’reyousitting so close tome?” I elbow her back and though I know it’s childish, it’s too easy to annoy a fifteen-year-old. “Better be nice if you want me to teach you to drive.”

Noah shrieks from the other table. “You think outta all of us, she’d pick you to teach her?”

“Have you seen my pickup? It’s badass!” I shout above the other conversations.

Tripp helped me restore a 1970 Chevy C10 and we only finished it six months ago. I only drive it around town or on the backroads during sunlight to reduce any risk of getting into an accident or hitting a deer. I utilize my beat-up Ford or dirt bike to get around the ranch instead.

“You’d lemme drive it?” Mallory pipes up.

I give her a pointed look. “Only if you’re nice to me.”

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