Page 78 of Sometimes You Fall

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

“How do you know Astrid and Willow?”

My hand finds my bump. No time like the present to let the truth fly, right? “Well, I’m having a baby with Astrid’s brother.”

Astrid squeals. “I’m going to be an aunt!”

Willow comes around the corner now. “Astrid, that squeal is going to attract the geese outside.”

Shauna and I laugh as Astrid shrugs. “Not sorry.”

“Scottie! You’re here!” Willow closes the distance between us and pulls me in for a hug.

“Happy birthday!” I tell her.

“Thank you.” She inhales deeply with a smile on her lips. “Thirty-five and finally feeling like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”

Shauna clears her throat. “And who do you have to thank for that?”

Willow rolls her eyes. “You, I guess.” Willow glances back at me. “Scottie, Shauna is my best friend from college. She lives in Texas now with her real-life bonified cowboy husband, and she’s the one who convinced me to come down here when I inherited this house.”

“Grady was telling me a little bit about it as we were walking in. What an adventure.”

“It was, murderous geese aside.” I glance at Astrid, who chuckles behind her wine glass. “But it led me to the love of my life.” She stares out the window at Dallas and the other guys where they stand together, nursing their beers. “Carrington Cove became my home and I’m so grateful for that.”

“I, for one, am happy to no longer be the only girl in the family,” declares a shorter woman with long black hair as she joins our conversation. She reaches her hand out to me. “I’m Hazel, the youngest Sheppard sibling and only girl, until Willow balanced things out, that is.”

Astrid chimes in. “Hey. I’m part of the family now too, you know?”

Hazel grins. “Yeah, but Willow was first, and she broke down Dallas. You’ve got to give her credit for that.”

“Aw, I love you too, Hazel.” Willow pulls Hazel in for a hug.

Shauna tsks. “Now, don’t you start crying, birthday girl. We still have hours of this party left.”

Willow laughs as she grows emotional. “I can’t help it,” she says as she fans her face, making all of us chuckle as well.

I can feel my own emotions starting to build, forming a lump in my throat because I know how it feels to not belong. I felt out of place for the past fifteen years, living a life I chose because I felt like I had to, not because that’s what I wanted. And having genuine friendships is a lot more difficult than you’d think. I had female friends back in Georgia, but most of them were from my association with Andrew. As soon as we split up, it was clear where their loyalties lay.

But now, being back in Carrington Cove, there is a peace that’s come over me—a sense of purpose and belonging, despite my pregnancy and the issues with Chase.

Maybe it’s having my mom and Gigi in my life every day. Maybe it’s working at a job with a boss I love.

Or maybe it’s the man standing out in the sand, the one who’s giving me another child and another chance to get this right, and these women who have welcomed me into their circle without a second thought.

God, I want him. I want to trust him. I’m just so fucking terrified.

“Hey, honey?” A deep voice behind us catches everyone’s attention, and we collectively spin around to take in the giant man holding a baby striding toward Shauna.

Jesus Christ, this man looks like a tree—thick, hearty, and definitely rugged.

“I’m pretty sure Hudson is hungry,” he says, stopping right next to Shauna.So this must be herhusband.

Shauna intercepts their son. “Sounds about right. My boobs were burning so he must have sensed it.” She plants kisses all over the baby’s cheeks before moving toward the couch to nurse him.

“Oh God. Nursing. How did I forget about that?” I face-palm my forehead.

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