Page 49 of Unexpectedly Falling
“He’s givin’ me gray hair, and you’re givin’ me an ulcer,” I mutter as I hustle to lower the tailgate. She sets the goat in the back before securing it and turning to look around me at Hal.
“You wanna go get the tractor stuck?”
He snorts. “Thought you were tryin’ to make my grandsonnotmad at you.”
She waves him off. “Nothing my sparkling personality and enthusiasm won’t fix.”
“What is wrong with you two?” I whine, dragging my hands down my face. “Just don’t embarrass…”
“Oh, please finish that sentence, Jensen Kade. I’ll wait.”
“It’s a trap,” Hal says over an exaggerated cough.
“You know what I mean. Nessa thinks I’m nice.”
“You are nice,” she says and then grins, “unless you’re losing at game night.” Also not an insult because it’s true. I’ve maintained top marksmanship levels since the academy, but for some reason every time we’re forced to play something with a ping-pong ball and a Solo cup or muffin tin, I’m toast.
“Right, but?—”
“Are you saying I’m not nice, Sheriff? You think I’ll embarrass you in front of the hot soccer star?”
Hal’s eyes dance with humor, and despite it being not yet nine in the morning, I’m ready to call it a day. “You’re plenty nice. And no, but also…” Ellison’s lips quirk up on the side as she watches me proverbially dig myself into a hole.
“Do youwanther to think you’re nice? Or you don’t.”
“I don’t know. She thinks nice is a bad thing.”
“Want me to tell her about all the hot single women in Blackstone Falls lining up to have you put them in handcuffs?”
“I’ll be in the truck,” Hal says on a bark of laughter that disappears as he hoists himself into the passenger seat and closes the door.
Waiting till he’s secured in the cab, I turn my attention back to her. “Let’s keep that as a contingency plan.”
Ellison’s eyebrows fly up her forehead, and it would be funny if I wasn’t serious. “Well hell, put me in, coach.”
This time I snort and let my shoulders drop a little. “I don’t know what I want yet. Things are easy and comfortable with Nessa even while I’m learning how to be a father, and it’s just a lot.”
“But you like her,” Ellison says, tilting her head to the side, and I rub the back of my neck, my skin heating under her scrutiny. “It’s okay to like her, Jensen.” Her words are soft and sincere and they hit twice as hard because her constant state is busting my balls.
“I don’t think she wants me to like her. She’s not staying here long—made it real clear her time in Blackstone Falls is temporary.”
“And she thinks you’re too nice for her.” Ellison shrugs. “Then change her mind.”
“What if she doesn’t want it changed? What if I fuck things up just by trying?”
“I don’t know what the right answer is,” she says then waits for me to look at her, “but I do know a lot about mistakes and what time wasted being away from the people you love does to your soul.”
“I don’t love her.” The notion of loving her after only a few weeks is absurd.
“But you could,” Nessa retorts and that’snotas absurd.
“Why do you say that?”
“You’re no fun and she seems like lots of it. It’s all about balance, and you could probably use some.”
“Thanks,” I say with a shake of my head as she takes a step back toward the truck.
“Anytime. And don’t be a snitch and tell Montana about the tractor.”
