Page 54 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

“It’s somethin’ the mayor only started last year. She wanted to drive more people to the local businesses so they didn’t feel the financial hit with everyone at the rodeo for four nights,” Brynn explains.

“Love that idea.”

And now I want to go into every shop and stop at each food truck for the full experience.

I check the clock on my phone, deciding how long I can stay before I have to get back to bring my trailer to the rodeo. I’ll have to do press thirty minutes before the race starts, but I should still have enough time to stay here for a bit.

I shouldn’t have had that churro dog, but it looked too good to pass up.

And the fried Oreos.

And the pulled pork nachos.

And I really shouldn’t have swallowed them down with a large fresh squeezed lemonade.

My stomach is battling for its life as I stand next to Ranger in one of the waiting pens. After sweating through my interviews, I found some water and chugged it, but it doesn’t seem to be helping.

I’ve been looking forward to this race for weeks, and now I’m going to get out there and throw up all over the barrels.

It doesn’t help that the arena is packed, and I’m already overstimulated.

“You alright, Ellie?” Sarah asks, coming over with her horse. Or maybe it’s Samantha.

“Yeah, I’m great.” I force myself to smile so she doesn’t know I’m lying. She doesn’t need to know I stress ate all afternoonafter Noah texted and mentioned Landen’s new girlfriend randomly showed up at their campsite last night.

Well, she didn’t say it exactly like that, but it was implied her arrival was unexpected.

I shouldn’t care.I don’t, but it makes me anxious enough as it is when Landen’s around. I don’t need some chick he’s hooking up with to watch me, too.

“Are you sure? You look sick,” she says but then quickly adds, “No offense!”

“I’m one hundred percent perfect.”And somewhat offended.

The other twin walks up carrying a bag and thermos in her hand and then offers it to me. “I drink this when I’m nervous before races. It’ll settle your stomach and nerves.”

“What is it?” I eye her suspiciously, curious as to why they’d want to help me when I’m their biggest competition, but she looks genuine, as does her sister.

“It’s licorice root tea. It’s good for digestive distress,” she explains.

I cautiously take it from her. “It’s not gonna give me diarrhea or anything, is it?”

“No, of course not. It has a lot of great health benefits. We drink it every day and look at us!” the other one says.

Okay, well, not sure that’s a selling point, but if it’ll keep me from upchucking in front of a thousand people, I’ll try it.

After the first cautious sip, I decide it’s not as bad as it sounds and drink more.

“Do you take a daily probiotic?”

“Um…no.”

Is that something I should be taking?I thought I had another five to ten years before I had to worry about pumping my body with extra vitamins. But considering they’re in their thirties, maybe that’s why they know more about it than I do.

“Hold on…” She kneels, digging into her backpack before she reveals a Ziploc bag with a few pills. “Take these.”

I eye them suspiciously. “For what?”

“They’re for digestive health,” she explains.

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