Page 76 of Accidentally Falling
“Fine, if I have to suffer through everyone telling me I’mglowingand ignoring the fact that I’m weeks away from not being able to see my feet over this belly, then so do you.”
“I don’t want to,” I whine, sticking my tongue out at her when she glares. “You’re excited to be pregnant and have a baby. Your friends are excited. I am a little gremlin with an angry giant who hates socializing as much as I do.”
“I know it’s hard. Hell, when I moved back here I didn’t want anything to do with any of it. Montana has always been my safe place, and it was never my intention to even speak to anyone outside him and Grandad and Celeste.”
“But—”
“But I did it for Montana and they’re all really great. No one is going to make it be anything more than what we want it to be.” Driving home the point, she adds, “They’re your friends too.”
“I never thought I’d even have kids,” I whisper, the admission suddenly loud as it hangs in the near silent cab as Ellison kills the music.
“You’re allowed to change your mind.”
“It’s not that,” I tell her, guilt settling over me. “I know your mom was terrible, but you had two parents. I just had my mom, and I watched her struggle and watched her settle for mediocre happiness.”
“You don’t think I’m scared shitless about turning into the woman who birthed me? Our father was better but he was no prize growing up.” She sighs and I hate myself for bringing this up.
For putting any of this on her.
“El—”
Putting her hand over mine, she squeezes. “We have so much more than they ever had, Arden. We have each other. We have partners who care about us and support us and deal with the never-ending tears and cravings. We have the family we’ve created here. You might have come to town for some closure but you stayed, and our kids are going to grow up wild and happy and so damn loved.”
“Ugh, I hate you,” I lament, wiping at the tears rolling down my face.
“Aww. I love you too!”
“You’re the worst.”
“But I’m your favorite,” she teases, shimmying in her seat until I laugh. “Say it.”
“You’re myonlysister.”
“Oooo, I’m tellin’ Bea and Nessa and Lana…”
“You’re ridiculous,” I tell her, her eyes widening as she looks from me to the road, “and my favorite.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more.”
“And look at this perfect timing,” she drawls. “We’re here.”
42
JUDE
ARDEN: Can you meet us at the barn in like fifteen minutes?
JUDE: How many are in that trailer?
ARDEN: More than two
JUDE: I’m on my way
Shaking my head, I check the time, then I say goodbye to my brother and jump in my truck, heading toward the Greene family farm and the chaos that’s about to unfold.
The drive isn’t long, and the windows are down as Descending North’s newest hit plays on the radio. Deacon and I saw them play one time at a dive bar in Chicago. I was home on leave and we didn’t think twice about jumping in the car to go. Without a doubt, it’s still one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
