Page 18 of Fall With Me
She laughs. “Maybe.”
The sound of her laughter is like singing a song around a campfire on a chilly night. The warmth of her tone heatsme from head to toe. I smile in return, enraptured by her.Whoa, dude. Careful. You’re not looking for anything.Finn is my priority.
I get another basket and tell Finn to pick what he can reach. Speeding up, it only takes us fifteen minutes to fill our container this time. “Ha!” I can’t help rubbing in our speed. “Looks like you’re getting slow over there.”
Her brow rises. “What if I let you win?” She challenges me.
I’m not buying it. “Sure. If that’s the lie you need to tell yourself.”
She glares at me. “Let’s let Finn run around with Champ, and the competition will really begin.”
This woman doesn’t give up. “Deal.” Looking up, I tell Finn, “Come on down, son. You can go play now, but make sure you stay in the backyard. ’Kay?”
“’Kay.” Finn maneuvers himself until he’s dangling off the tree branch. Wrapping my hands around his waist, I help him to the ground. He takes off after Champ, who’s lying in the grass.
Pulling my full basket to the side, I grab a new one. “We start with empty buckets.”
Moving to a different section of the tree, I count, “One, two, three, go!”
Using both hands, I pick whatever apples I can reach. Chloe has an advantage with the ladder, but I’m okay with it. Now that Finn’s distracted, I don’t mind letting Chloe win. Faking how tired my shoulder muscles are, I slow my pace.
It’s time I begin making up for the football game.
Chapter 9
Chloe
“I won! I won!” I throw my arms straight in the air, spinning in circles, shouting my victory cry. My competitive streak is alive and thriving.
Champ, wanting to join in on the celebration, puts his front paws on my stomach. I bend down to scratch behind his ears. Immediately, his wet tongue licks my nose.Champ, you silly dog.
Finn’s in front of me, a smile on his lips. “I think he wanted to spin with you.” Finn pets Champ.
“Me too.” I’m warming up to Finn’s presence. There’s no way I’m ready to babysit the kid or anything, but he’s fun. “Should we see if we can get him to follow us?”
Finn’s face lights up. “Yes!”
Finn runs in circles, with me following right behind him. Champ, excited and happy-barking, weaves between Finn and me, almost tripping us up.
“Come on, Champ,” Finn encourages.
A picture of me running around with a few kids and a dog in our backyard plants itself in my mind, taking root. The same longing I get whenever I watch those couple fitness videos crashes into my chest. The heaviness makes me rub a hand over my heart, willing the pain to go away.
I wish I could allow myself this dream. But how can I when my own parents weren’t around to lead by example? And what if I turn out just like that?
Purposely falling to the ground, I force out a laugh, forgetting about the heartache I’m experiencing. I’m better off being alone than messing up a child.
Finn follows my lead and spreads out like a starfish next to me. Champ, tongue lolling, bounces back and forth between my head and Finn’s, barking out his excitement.
Dawson stands over me, blocking the sun. Amusement dances in his eyes. “Having fun?”
Rolling my head to the side, I look at Finn, who’s grinning. “I am. How about you, Finn?”
“I want a dog, Dad.”
Dawson chuckles. “I’m sure you do.”
Finn sits up. “Can we get one?”
