Page 67 of Feels Like Falling
“I’m proud of you, Eddie,” I say, throwing her a wink.
“Me too.”
“Am I chopped liver?” Archer asks, and even though he’s trying to look affronted, he misses the mark and just comes off looking confused.
With a smile on her face, Ellison walks over and wraps Archer in a tight hug. “I love seein’ you all grown up.”
“We’re basically the same age. You know that, right?”
She sighs and then pulls away. “Yeah, but you made it.” He stares at her, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “And it gives me hope that I will too.”
31
MONTANA
The days have flown by since Ellison surprised me with the goat invasion, and I am only slightly less annoyed than I was the day of their arrival. I’ve done my best to avoid them—even the cute little ones that hopped and pranced around like they were in some barnyard parkour event.
But mostly, I’ve been workin’ from sunup to sundown with no end in sight.
Ellison has been much the same, busy with lesson plans and getting her classroom ready, and I am so damn proud of her. She’s had dinner with her father a couple of times but thankfully hasn’t asked me to join them. I need to talk to the Mills patriarch one-on-one but I’m not ready, and every time I think about it, I’m unable to curb my anger.
Part of me knows it is slightly misplaced. The stress of the farm and Grandad and her father’s unexpected arrival in Blackstone Falls have all contributed to my reaction. It is easier to lash out at the man who has done so much to derail my future—our future—than deal with the impending breakdown I can feel on the horizon.
“You keep doin’ that and you’re gonna wear a hole in my floor,” Grandad says without looking up from the newspaper in his hand, startling me out of my spiraling thoughts.
And just in time too.
“Sorry,” I mumble as I pour more coffee into my cup for no other reason than to have something to keep myself still for a couple of seconds.
“You should take the day off.”
“What?” I ask, confusion furrowing my brow.
“A day off. Take Ellison to the lake or go for a drive and get away from here for a while. She starts school soon, and harvest season is right around the corner. It’s only gonna get busier.”
I open my mouth but then close it just as quickly. Things with Ellison have been the only thing goingrightsince we threw out all the rules and started bein’ us again.We’ve spent every available moment together—from early-morning coffees and dinners with Grandad and Celeste to a couple of evening rides with Sadie and Marist before falling into bed together at the end of each day. Life with Ellison has been nothing short of amazing, but Grandad was right—we’ve only had pockets of time and it would only get worse.
“I think you’re right,” I admit as I pull my phone out.
“That happens more often than y’all give an old man credit for.” He harumphs and I can’t help but snicker as I type out a message.
MONTANA: Let’s go to the falls
ELLISON: When?
MONTANA: Right now
ELLISON: I need like an hour. Are you sure you can take today off?
MONTANA: Grandad is insisting
ELLISON: Tell him he’s my favorite
MONTANA: I thought I was your favorite (crying emoji)
ELLISON: If you’d suggested taking me to the falls then you’d be my favorite (kiss face emoji)
MONTANA: Fine. I’ll grab lunch and pick you up in an hour
