Page 38 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

For the next four hours in between laundry and cleaning my place, we text back and forth. She’s funny and easily keeps up with my flirting. I laugh more than I have in months and it feels good to be connecting with someone who doesn’t want me dead.

Landen

I have an early morning, so I gotta go to bed. But when can I take you out?

Cecilia

About damn time you asked.

Landen

Didn’t wanna come off too pushy.

Cecilia

How about this weekend?

Landen

I’m going to the fair’s rodeo event tomorrow night and Saturday, if something like that would interest you.

Cecilia

Fried food, overpriced beer, carnival rides, and a hot cowboy holding my hand? Oh no, how would I ever survive…

I chuckle at the sarcasm, wondering if all women are this easygoing on dating apps, or if I just got lucky on the first try. Either way, I’m putting myself out there and running with it. So far, I’ve learned she’s a twenty-five-year-old hairdresser who lives in the next town over. She hasn’t had a serious boyfriend in over a year but enjoys going out to the bar with friends and line dancing.

Landen

It’ll be a hardship, but I’m sure you’ll manage.

Cecilia

What time should I meet you there?

Landen

How’s five-thirty?

Cecilia

I’ll be the one in a white sundress with tan boots eating a footlong corn dog covered in mustard.

Smiling wide, I shake my head at the very specific image.

She looks beautiful in her photos. Shoulder-length brown hair with matching chocolate eyes and an hourglass figure that looks sexy as hell in the blue dress she’s wearing.

I can’t wait to meet her in person.

Landen

You sure know a way to a man’s heart with all that dirty talk.

Cecilia

Just wait until we meet in person.

After we say good night, I crawl into bed with the goofiest smile on my face and fall asleep feeling hopeful for the first time in years.

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