Page 80 of Sometimes You Fall

I snort. “God, I’ll never forget the time that Chase rolled off the bed right in front of me. I cried on and off for an hour, thinking I’d wrecked him for the rest of his life.”

Grady furrows his brow. “How the hell did that happen?”

I look up at him. “Don’t act like it couldn’t happen to you, all right? I looked away for one second and…boom. He was on the ground.”

Shauna nods in understanding. “That’s how it works. Hudson rolled off the couch because I was watching television and trying to fold laundry at the same time.”

“She called me at work, crying hysterically,” Forrest says. “But babies are a lot tougher than you think. At least that’s what my mom told me, and he’s fine.” He stares up at his son, smiling proudly.

I inhale deeply and blow it out. “Just remembering all of this is starting to make me feel overwhelmed.”

Shauna leans forward in her seat. “Don’t be. You’re already a mom and you’ll slip right back into a rhythm the second time around. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.” She glances over at Forrest and then back to me. “We haven’t really told many people, but I’m expecting again.”

“Aw, congratulations,” I say, reaching out for her hand.

“Thank you.”

Forrest clears his throat as he stands from the couch, leaning down to kiss the top of Shauna’s head. “I’m gonna take Grady back outside, but just holler if you need anything.”

She peers up at him and nods. “Okay. I love you.”

“Love you too, baby.” He presses a soft kiss to her lips and then motions for Grady to follow him outside, still holding a sleeping Hudson.

“You gonna be okay?” Grady asks me before trailing after Forrest.

“Yes, I’m good.”

“Okay.” He takes a few steps away, but then turns back, stopping right next to my chair, holding the baby to his chest as he leans down and plants a kiss to the top of my head. “Just let me know if you need anything, all right?”

Shauna folds in her lips to hide her smile as I reply, “I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t argue with me, Scottie. You’ll lose every time. When are you going to accept that?” he says, flashing me a wink before finishing his trek outside, leaving Shauna and me alone again.

Willow, Hazel, and Astrid scurry over with their wine in their hands just as Shauna speaks. “Okay, so what the hell is going on with you two? Because he said he’s not your husband yet, but you don’t seem to want him to cater to you, which I’m telling you, is a lot better than it sounds.” She places her hand on her chest. “And that’s coming from a type A control freak who never thought I’d let a man take care of me like Forrest does, but God, it’s so hot.”

Willow laughs as Astrid raises her brows at me.

“Well, uh… we’re just friends who are having a kid together,” I say, shrugging. But I feel uneasy the second the words leave my lips. “You know, kind of like a Ross and Rachel type of situation?”

“Uh, that man wants to be more than just your friend,” Shauna says. “He wants to be your baby daddyandyour lover. Jesus, woman, I say just let him!”

Willow snorts. “I second that! My God, Scottie…I don’t know how you resist that.”

Sighing, I close my eyes and Astrid clears her throat. “I’m kind of in an awkward position right now because I know you’re all lusting after my older brother, but putting that aside, I really want things to work out with you and Grady, Scottie. So, I’m going to join in on the peer pressure.”

Hazel chimes in, and I peer up at her now. “I take pictures for a living, and the way that man looks at you? Totally camera-worthy, just saying.” I roll my eyes, but inside, my pulse is hammering. “I can only hope to find a man that looks at me like that one day,” she adds.

I look around the group of women. “Y’all just don’t get it,” I murmur.

“Then explain it to us,” Astrid urges.

Before I get a chance to respond, the door flies open, and Dallas comes barreling inside. Scanning the room, his eyes quickly land on Willow.

“There’s the birthday girl.” His deep voice sounds like gravel as he walks over to her, pulls her into his chest, and covers her mouth with his, drawing whistles and cheers from everyone in the house.

“Here I am. Are you okay?” Willow asks, brushing his hair from his eyes.

He swallows roughly and then says, “I’m more than okay, Goose. In fact, it’s time for me to give you your gift, but I need everyone to come outside for that.” He motions for us to follow him. “Come on. The sun is about to set anyway, and you don’t want to miss it.”

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