Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek, #3) (16)

It also doesn’t help that as I go through roping techniques with my new trainee, Antonio—a fifteen-year-old little shithead—who won’t shut up about her. It’s torturous enough seeing her around the ranch, but now I have to listen to him give me shit while he watches her practice.

“Goddamn, she snatched that.”

“She’s fire out there.”

And then, whenever he catches me staring, he loves to put me in my place.

“Nah, you’re too mid for her. You got no rizz.”

“Stop simpin’, bruh. You’re too old for her.”

I swear to God if he calls me bruh one more goddamn time…

Leave it to some punk teenager to humble me like I’m some creepy old man. I hate that at twenty-nine, I’ve turned into my dad, who can’t understand the younger generation’s slang.

In a lot of ways, he reminds me of Tucker’s daring personality. It’s probably why even though Antonio drives me up a wall sometimes, I can’t help but want to push him to do his best. Tucker was smart and fearless, but it didn’t come easy. He worked for everything he had.

“You think six years is that big of a deal?” I ask him, looking above his head to stare at Ellie, who’s across the training center. “Because it’s not.”

When I look back at him, he’s making a disgusted face. “Cringe.”

“Wait till I tell you my sister’s husband is twenty-two years older than her.”

“Ew, gag. He could lowkey be her dad!”

I can’t even conceal my laughter because if he only knew her husband is also her ex-boyfriend’s dad. The whole thing is fucking hilarious to me. She dumped Jase and then three years later, made him her stepson. Oh, and a big brother.

“They just had a baby last year, too.”

His jaw drops, and I laugh.

“I bet six years ain’t lookin’ so bad now, huh?”

He rolls his eyes and then continues practicing with the roping dummy. Although I manage the breeding operations, Noah once again talked me into signing up to help the local 4-H Club so they can participate in the fair’s junior rodeo event the following weekend.

Ellie climbs on Ranger after setting up the barrels and runs a lap in front of us. Her blond hair is pulled back into braids underneath her cowboy hat. Although she usually leaves it down for the races, both looks are sexy as hell. She has this crazy curl to it when it’s untamed. The polar opposite of her. Ellie wouldn’t know how to let loose if her life depended on it.

“Hi, Ellie!” Antonio waves obnoxiously like the lovestruck teen boy he is.

“Hey, lookin’ good over here.” She slows down, flashing him one of her flirty smiles I’ve only ever seen a few times. Never at me, though. Always for someone else.

Antonio takes that as his cue to show off and whip his rope in the air, nearly smacking me in the face in the process, and then throws it over the practice steer. He tightens up the slack and lets out a loud yeehaw.

Ellie’s eyes brighten with pride. “So incredible! I can’t wait to watch you win first place.”

“No cap, you gonna come?” he asks with way too much enthusiasm.

“Of course!” She beams, adjusting her tank strap that fell down her shoulder. “I’m racin’ there before I leave for the Franklin Rodeo. It’s gonna be a fun time.”

Antonio’s smile widens. “Period.”

“Well, good luck. I’m gonna do some drills with Ranger for a bit.”

Antonio’s so lovestruck, I swear I see drool on his chin.

She gives him a cute little finger wave before glancing at me. The high curve of her lips turns into a frown and her wide, bright eyes narrow into slits as soon as our gazes meet.

Just to further piss her off, I shout, “Nice seein’ ya, Ellie!” Then I wink before she takes off to the other side of the building.

Antonio chuckles. “I don’t think she’s feelin’ ya, bruh.”

That’s an understatement.

“Now who’s giving cringe, bruh.” I roll my eyes and then check the time. “You only have twenty minutes until you get picked up, so stay focused.”

He shakes his head at me. “You’re weak.”

The fuck does that even mean?

As he continues practicing, I only manage to glance over at Ellie twice before Antonio’s ride shows up. Watching her anytime she’s here is an obsession I can’t seem to kick. I probably look like a creep, standing and staring while she practices, but I’m mesmerized by her talent and how much she’s excelled over the past few years. Although she hates it when I interrupt her lessons to give advice or tips, she usually applies them anyway and they end up helping her—which of course she hates because then that means I was right.





“Holy…motherfucking…shit.”

My eyes scan over my phone screen as I reread the email attachment from Tucker’s mom. We don’t stay in contact much anymore, but we’ll exchange hugs whenever we run into each other in town. I could tell seeing me only made her sadder because she used to call me her second son when Tucker was alive.

The letter she forwarded is from the attorney who helped Talia’s family win their case in the wrongful death lawsuit. It states that Angela is scheduled for her parole hearing in a month and that due to her good behavior and getting a bachelor’s degree in psychology, they may approve it. It sounds like she’s going to play the I’m a better person now and the I can help others based on my experience cards.