Page 56 of Feels Like Falling
JENSEN: I’ll be there
MASON: Us too
JENSEN: Are you always gonna answer for him?
MASON: Probably. I think he has this group chat on silent
MONTANA: I’d be offended if I wasn’t so pissed
ARCHER: Plenty of time to be offended later, let’s just get to the field
Pocketing my phone, I grab the beer in my fridge and trudge out to the barn I’d repainted last summer, the red-and-white paint still crisp in the lamp light. Sliding into the driver’s seat of the ATV, I have to take a steadying breath as my thoughts immediately go to the night I had Ellison spread out on the seat as she screamed my name.
I’d gotten this damn thing for Grandad, but I’d never be able to look at it the same. I’d intended for him to cruise around in it, but he said he much preferred commandeering the tractor instead.
Because of course he did.
I could use any vehicle on hand here to pull the ATV out if he got it stuck—hell,Icould probably heave it out of most situations without any help at all. But that wasn’t my life and while I wasn’t complaining, I wasn’tnotcomplaining either.
It starts up with a soft purr and I drive it out the back and onto the dirt path, cutting through the yard and disappearing farther away from my responsibilities.
And the way this night had gotten out of hand.
Hurt and anger course through my veins, the entire night on a loop inside my head. I’m exhausted from the highs and lows, but I’ll be damned if this is the universe’s way of telling me Ellison isn’t the girl for me.
Because she’s not just the girl for me.
She’s theonlygirl for me.
Grumbling, I park next to the firepit and climb out, gathering some newspaper and lighter fluid from the seat beside me. My boots are silent on the crushed grass, the area well acquainted with my late-night visits.
Gathering some wood, I set everything up and light a match. The blaze is immediate, the accelerant doing its job enough that I’m already nursing my first beer when the sound of Archer’s truck coming down the path disturbs the sanctuary of this space.
Doors open—not one buttwo—and I can only assume my cousin brought his girlfriend. I like Bea, and it’s not that I don’t want her here, but I’m not really looking for any words of wisdom from the female persuasion.
“You got a permit for this fire?” a husky male voice asks from behind me, and I chuckle as Jensen drops a folding chair next to me and sits with an audible sigh.
“No, Sheriff, I don’t.”
Cracking open a beer, he stares at the fire before shrugging. “I’m off duty.”
“No need to worry. I filled up the water barrel before I came over,” Archer says with a huff as he sets his chair down on the other side of Jensen. “You’re welcome,” he says pointedly as he leans up to look at me. I raise my beer and watch as his eyebrows follow the motion.
“Thanks,” I say half-heartedly.
“Jesus, what happened to you?” he asks and I shake my head once.
“Fuck if I know.” Turning to Jensen, I ask, “Why were you with Archer?”
I can’t be sure in the light, but I’m almost positive he blushes. “Had to pick something up.”
“He likes Bea’s soap,” Archer adds helpfully with a smirk.
“Is that a euphemism?” I ask, immediately causing both of them to scowl.
“No,” Jensen says before squaring his shoulders. “I’ve been workin’ so much with us being short-staffed, and I’m exhausted—barely got time to shower let alone sleep. Been using that soap she makes and it’s nice, doesn’t dry out my skin.”
He takes a drink of his beer and I reach over and touch his arm. “Oh, that is nice,” I say to get a rise out of him. It works, but I can’t dodge the jab he throws at my bicep in retaliation. We laugh and he tells us about the shenanigans happening over in Clementine Creek including the good, bad, and absolutely ridiculous.
