Page 65 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

“I’d say more along the lines of…frenemies? Though, not from a lack of tryin’ on my end. You recently asked me to leave you alone because I was crossin’ your boundaries and so after that, I stopped tryin’.”

His words are so sincere and soft, my emotions almost take over. I tilt my head at him, wondering what in the world would’ve made me act like that.

Normally, I’m a quiet person who prefers to keep to myself, so for me not to like someone and be that rude wouldn’t be for nothing.

But fuck, I can’t remember.

Part of me wishes I could because it’s going to bother me until then, but the other part…

Would it be so bad to like him? My dating history, from what I do know, consists of less than two people. One from high school and one shortly after graduation. So it’s been a few years. But racing became my priority over everything else, and I didn’t feel the need to date.

Landen’s attractive, seems kind to have put up with me in the first place and still support my career and come to my races, and if he’s Noah’s brother, how bad can he be?

“How old are you?” I ask.

“Twenty-nine, soon to be the big three-oh.”

“And you’re not married?”

He shifts, crossing his ankle over his knee. “Nope. Not even close to marriage.”

“Noah said you have a girlfriend.”

I give myself a mental pat on the back for managing to squeeze in that question. Better to know for certain before I get my hopes up.

“I do not. I was seeing someone for like a week and a half. She wanted to move faster than I did, so I ended it.”

My brows lift. “After less than two weeks?”

“Yeah, I guess I wasn’t as ready to move on as much as I thought.”

I’m tempted to ask what that means, but I think better of it. If he wanted me to know, he would’ve said.

Grinning, I continue, “Well, I’m nowhere near marriage either. I’m pretty sure. Unless there’s a boyfriend I’ve forgotten about. But if I had one, he’d be here, right?”

“I would assume so, yes.” He chuckles. “Although you’re close with Easton, I think.”

“Oh shoot, I should call him. If I was stayin’ at his uncle’s ranch, he woulda been at the rodeo. Do you know where my phone is?”

“No, I haven’t seen it.”

“I normally keep it in my pocket. Could I borrow your phone to call mine? Maybe I’ll hear it ring or vibrate somewhere in here.”

“Yep, of course.”

He unlocks the screen and then hands it over. I smile when I see a photo of him and his siblings on his home page.

I input my number and a contact name pops up.

Little Devil.

Where have I heard that before?

Wait…

“Is this what you call me?” I ask, turning the phone around to show him.

“Uh…yeah.” His cheeks tint with embarrassment. “You weren’t a fan, but it suited you well.”

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