Page 24 of More Than Falling in Love

I wait until Mason is buckled into his seat before handing back a doughnut.“Want this?”

He looks at Kent.“Can I have it, Dad?”

“You may.”Kent pulls away from the curb.“I’ll take a lemon-filled if I’m not depriving you.”

I hand over the doughnut.“You have good taste.”

He winks, and my insides turn to mush.Friendly mush.

Sunday evening,I drag my suitcase into my apartment, then shoot off a text to my dad.

Me:Home safe & sound.

Dad:Good.Thanks so much for coming.Love you.

Boxes are stacked in the corner, and the coffee table is covered in packing paper.It’s a reminder that soon I’ll be living alone.Part of me is unsure about that.I’ve never lived by myself.But I won’t know if I like it until I try it.

Sarah rushes down the hall.“Tell me all about your trip.Your texts were vague and cryptic.”

On the way home, I grouped my photos into albums, which makes it easier to show Sarah only the pics I want her to see.The pictures of Kent catching me as we fell into the river and the hugging afterward are tucked away in a different album, as are the photos from our pool time yesterday.

“I had a great time.Dad’s new wife is wonderful.And she lives on a ranch.”

“Like with cows and horses?”

I pull up my cow selfie.“I met the cows.I’ll make time to meet the horses on my next trip.I might even get riding lessons.”I unzip my suitcase and show off my new boots.“And I bought these.”Having a wide foot limited my options, and I ended up with brown boots, but I already love them.

“You should totally wear those to work.”She herds me toward the table.“As you can see, I started packing.”

“The boxes were a big hint.”

“You’ve got to be hungry.”

“Famished.”

Sarah picks up a bag off the counter.“Good because I ordered dinner.Tell me more.Were there cowboys on the ranch?”She points at me.“We don’t need to tell Damien about this part of the conversation.”

“Keeping secrets from your fiancé?”

“You don’t have to put it like that.”She rolls her eyes.“You know what I mean.”

While we eat, I tell her about the ranch.Just not about every single person on it.

Chapter 10

Kent

Flutter?I’ve been kicking myself since I gave Poppy her nickname nearly two weeks ago, wishing I thought of a better one.But it fits because when I close my eyes at night, I can see her standing in the field of wildflowers, grinning at Mason as a butterfly circles her head.The name is also a good reminder that she’ll be coming and going.

Mason beats me onto the porch and throws open the front door.

I catch it before it bangs into the wall.“Any homework?”

“Already did it.Miss Ava helped me.”Mason drops his backpack near the door.“Can I play a game on your phone?”

“Sure.I’m going to take a shower.Stay in the house.Please.”

“Yep.I won’t leave.”He plops down on the sofa and kicks off his shoes.Summer vacation is only two weeks away, and he’s giving off teenager vibes.

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