Page 23 of The Friendly Fall

The air is crisp, and I take a moment to breathe in the familiar scents of the small town I’ve called home all my life before getting in my truck. I turn the key in the ignition and start the diesel motor.

Fatigue from a long day at the hardware store after a long night of trying to put out a barn fire has me feeling less than chipper today. And in all reality, I want nothing more than to go home and passout … but I dug the holes for the new posts at the Willis’s house yesterday, and I need to set them before it rains.

The diesel engine roars to life as I head out from the store parking lot, running my fingers through my hair as I work through my mental checklist.

I’m supposed to be helping with the float for Daniel’s group of kids, too, but I’ll just have to go there tomorrow.

Maybe Iamoverstretched.

I shrug my shoulders at the thought as I make my way across town. If I am overstretched, I don’t mindthatmuch. It’s better to be busy than to sit around and let my mind wander. Plus, there’s nothing for me at home—just an empty cabin out in the woods. Five minutes pass before I park off to the side of the yard and kill the motor.

She’s here.

My heart jumps at the sight of the silver Hyundai parked beside Ms. Marilyn’s old truck. And suddenly, my energy is renewed.

If I’m honest, coming to the Willis’s house has been the highlight of each day since Eliza moved in. And I was so glad she let me give her a tour around town earlier this week.

I wonder if she’ll come out and say hello.

I sure hope so.

I slip out of my truck and make my way back to the trailer where I’ve stacked the precut posts. As I’m working the straps free, I hear a click behind me. I figure it’s nothing so I ignore it and finish removing the straps, rolling them up and putting them away.

Click.

“What the…” I turn around to see a black camera lens pointedrightat me. Behind the camera, is that cute, messy, blonde tuft of hair. “Woah. What’re you doing?”

Eliza drops the camera, her cheeks slightly red. “Did I startle you? Sorry. I’m just trying to practice taking photos with the evening light.” She points to the sun beginning to creep down in the sky. “And I figured you could use some candids for your social media or something.”

I blink a couple of times, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. “I don’t have social media … and I don’t really do pictures.”

Her brows furrow. “Why not?”

“I just don’t like the internet.” I shrug, grabbing one of the posts and head toward the holes around the porch.

Eliza follows me. “But why don’t you like pictures?”

“I don’t know,” I answer her, dropping the post into the hole before spinning around. I nearly run right into her, but I stop, letting out a sigh. “Sorry.”

“Are you okay?” she asks, her pale green eyes alight with concern. “You seem a little off today.”

I can’t hold back my smile as my heart thunders under her gaze. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired. There was a barn fire last night that kept me up late, and then I had a long day at the store.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. You could’ve skipped today,” Eliza offers with a shrug.

“There’s a chance of rain in the forecast in a couple of days. I need to get these posts in so the concrete has time toset before then.”

“You could wait until after the rain.”

“Maybe, but then it’ll just take me longer to get the ramp done.”

Not like I’m trying to be quick.

I like having an excuse to see this woman. But I’m not going to tellherthat.

“So…” her voice trails off as I continue to grab posts and set them in the holes. “Would it be okay if I took some pictures of you? I need the practice, and I think the squirrels are getting tired of me; also, I’m trying to build a portfolio.”

I swallow the nerves that come with the idea of her taking pictures of me. “A portfolio? For what?”

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