Page 41 of Accidentally Falling
“I know.” Montana throws his head back and looks up at the sky. “She’s the fucking beat of my heart but that woman is a menace.” Looking at me, he adds, “Jude, you want a goat?”
“Uh, no.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
I nod but I have no intention of needing any variety of farm animals, unless the baby wants a pony. Then I have no doubt my brother will make that happen.
And it can live here.
My lips twitch as we all take a seat in the camping chairs set up around the fire. It’s peaceful, the flames licking along the wood as we all just sit and watch.
“Is this it?” I hear myself ask.
“Yep,” Archer says. “We’re here for you and Arden and the baby.”
“He means you’re stuck with us,” Mason adds with a smirk.
“Ellison will have you killed if you hurt her sister, so don’t do that,” Montana says in a way that tells me he’s not totally joking.
“I don’t plan on hurting her.”
“We figured,” Jensen says. “It’s hard enough navigating relationships. It gets real complicated when you throw kids into the mix. We wanted you to know you have people on your side.”
“You’re family,” Montana says, with such conviction I can’t help but stare at him before glancing around. I expect to see smirks and amusement radiating off the rest of them, but they’re all wearing the same serious expression.
“All right,” I manage because the idea is so completely foreign to me I’m going to need more than right now to process it. “Thanks.”
“You get used to it,” Bodhi says before lifting one shoulder and letting it drop. “It’s kind of nice, actually.” And just when I think he’s done, he smirks. “Leave the chat on mute though.”
“Already done.”
Groans and heckling go around, and I feel my lips curve up on one side because maybe this won’t be so bad.
Maybe.
22
ARDEN
“If you look at your phone one more time I’m going to put it in the goat pen,” Cal says, annoyance in his tone.
“You will not,” I hiss back.
“Jude is a big boy—literally,” Lana says. “He’ll be fine.”
“Worst thing that happens is that my husband talks him to death.” Ellison rolls her eyes but there’s a smile on her lips.
“Does Montana still think you want to have the goats in your maternity shoot?” Nessa asks, making Bea practically choke on her drink.
“I’m sorry, what?” Bea laughs, but seriously,what?
“He told me I was being unreasonable about wanting the one wall to be floor-to-ceiling windows in the baby’s room so they can see all the animals. He doesn’t think there’s enough time or a problem with permits or whatever so I told him I have my heart set on a very elaborate maternity shoot with the goats.”
“You did not.” I laugh, imagining the horror on Montana’s face, but my sister shoots me a devilish smirk.
“Of course I did.”
“You guys are so ridiculous.”
