Page 76 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

The day after, I sent her a message to see how she was feeling. That led to us texting all day long and then each night we’d FaceTime so she could watch and listen to me reading to Ranger. He loved getting to hear her voice, too. It’s become our routine for the past eight days, but I’m dying to see her in person again.

Ellie had her follow-up doctor appointment for her concussion and due to some of the lingering side effects, she still can’t drive or do anything too physical. I offered to pick her up and bring her to see Ranger after my shifts, but she was usually too tired by then.

Even though I always looked forward to talking to her, I woke up each morning anticipating the moment she’d tell me her memory was back and she hated my guts again. Luckily, that hasn’t happened, and instead, I’ve been smiling at my phone nonstop like a lunatic who’s falling for a girl who has the potential to destroy him.

Today’s no different. We’ve been texting on and off all day, and she’s been talking with Noah to see if she can convince her dad to drop her off for a few hours. He’s been protective of letting her come after the doctor suggested she needed to continue resting. Since she hasn’t had any other epileptic episodes, they’re anticipating she’ll be clear for casual riding in a month or two.

Even though it’s Sunday, there are still chores to be done. Stalls to muck and horses to feed, but I save the breeding work for weekdays so I only have to work half a day. Unless I’m using the other half to catch up on paperwork, invoices, and returning emails.

“Incoming!”

Before I have a chance to react, a hay bale smacks into my head.

“Didn’t you hear my warnin’?” Waylon asks a few moments later, towering above me as I lie flat on my ass.

I groan, giving in to the pain. “You mean the point two-second one?”

“It slipped outta my grip, sorry.” He holds out his hand and helps me to my feet.

When I look up, Tripp and Wilder are in the loft, laughing.

“Fuck you, guys. Too bad I didn’t get a concussion and forget we were related.”

“Hey, don’t include me in that!” Noah shouts behind me.

“Jesus Christ.” I spin around toward her. “Where do y’all keep comin’ from?”

“You’d need to remember me so I could tell you all the chicks you’ve already dated so you didn’t try datin’ them again,” Waylon muses, grabbing the bale and carrying it back up.

“I was comin’ to tell you Ellie’s on her way out here. Her dad’s droppin’ her off to come hang out with Ranger, but I thought you’d like to spend some time with her, too,” Noah says.

“Aren’t you the one who told me not to give her false hope and now you’re encouraging me?” I raise a brow.

Talk about confusing.

She doesn’t know Ellie and I have been talking all week, but I still enjoy giving her shit.

“Yes, I know. But she doesn’t have a lot of people she can trust, and for whatever reason, this version of Ellie seems to like you. I’m not saying start datin’ her, but it wouldn’t hurt to hang out as friends.”

“Riiiiiight. So you’re givin’ me permission to spend time with her but not to fuck her.”

She playfully smacks my chest. “Landen Michael!”

“Dude, I’m already hurtin’.” I rub the spot where she hit.

“Oh please. A hay bale is like forty pounds. You can lift two of ’em at a time without breakin’ a sweat.”

I point to my skull. “It was droppedon my head…”

She rolls her eyes before walking away as if this is a normal occurrence.

“Ellie will be at the stables in an hour…” she calls out over her shoulder.

Since I was done for the day anyway, I drive home and change out of my work clothes. As anxious as I am to see her, I remind myself that this is temporary.

But as I’ve already decided, I’ll take what I can get.

Before I go to the stables, I stop by the main house to see if Mom and Gramma Grace need anything at the store for tonight’s supper. I usually grocery shop on Saturdays, but I ran out of time.

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