Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek, #3) (32)

“I’ll pack my shoulder brace too,” Ellie tells Noah as she violently stabs a piece of her watermelon. “I was gonna anyway…but I know it’ll keep me from droppin’ it and turnin’ the reins too soon.”

“Great idea.” Noah grins because she knows I just said the same damn thing.





“Are you ready, bud?” I pat Antonio’s shoulder as he anxiously waits for his turn.

“Ellie said she’d watch me. She’s not here. Is she comin’?” He looks toward the bleachers that are mostly filled with parents. It’s still early afternoon and most people don’t come until the evening events.

“If she said she would, then I’m sure she is.” I try to reassure him without making any promises.

“I watched her last night with my mom. She’s the GOAT! She deserved first place, though.”

“Yeah, I saw,” I deadpan, inhaling a sharp breath.

We continue waiting as a few other kids take their turns roping, and the closer we get to Antonio’s, the more nervous he gets.

“She’s not here!” he whisper-shouts.

Sighing, I take out my phone. “Hold on.”

We’ve only texted a few times, but it’s never been anything personal, only business.

Landen





Antonio’s wondering if you’re coming to watch him. It’s almost his turn.





When the jumping dots appear, I almost expect her to play dumb and say something stupid like who is this, but she surprises me when she responds.

Ellie





I’m two minutes away!





I show Antonio my screen and he smiles wide. “I knew she’d come.”

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I stand with him and wait until she rushes into the waiting area.

“Ellie!” Antonio’s whole face lights up.

“Hey! Sorry, the line to use the restroom took forever.” She wraps him in a hug and it’s like looking at a version of Ellie I don’t recognize.

He hugs her back. “Stoked you’re here!”

“Of course. I promised I would.” She smiles so beautifully, I wonder what it’d take to get her to look at me that way.

Probably at my funeral. When she’s looking down at me in my casket.

I give Antonio a quick pep talk before it’s his turn.

“You’ve got this!” Ellie cheers loudly.

When Antonio enters the arena, I stand next to Ellie with my arms crossed as we watch him do exactly what I taught him.

“I don’t get you,” I murmur, softly brushing my shoulder against hers, and I swear she shivers.

She keeps her gaze on Antonio. “You don’t need to.”

“You just made that whole kid’s life being here. You’re his idol. But with me, you’re cold and distant. Hell, you acted like I didn’t exist all mornin’. And you give me no reason why.”

I know I should drop it and let it be, but I can’t. It’s like an itch I need to scratch, to reveal what it is I did that made me the villain in her story.

She swallows hard as she avoids looking at me. “We all need someone to look up to, to rely on, and trust. I had that once, so I know what it’s like when it’s taken away. If having my support helps him build confidence in roping or any other equine sport he picks up, then I’m happy to give that to him.”

What does she mean she had that once? Who did she lose?

Antonio rushes back after he gets his final score.

“Killed it!” I give him a high five.

“So proud of you!” Ellie gives him another hug.

“I think I’m gonna stick with it and maybe even learn to be a badass bull rider. Then in five years, I’ll be good enough to go pro.” He waggles his brows at her.

“And you’ll still be too young for her,” I remind him.

Ellie jabs her elbow into my stomach, and I grunt unexpectedly.

“That’s a great goal to work toward.” Ellie smiles warmly. “Noah’s husband used to ride bulls. I bet he’d love to give you some tips or maybe lessons.”

“Yeah? That’d be dope.”

“I’ll mention it the next time I see her and let ya know,” Ellie says.

Antonio’s mom comes over, and I step back to give them room.

“Thanks for the text. I lost track of time.” Ellie finally turns in my direction and as she’s about to walk past me, I grab her arm.

“Wait. Who’d you look up to?”

“What?” Her gaze focuses on where I’m touching her.

“You said you knew what it’s like to have that taken away. Tell me who you lost,” I plead softly.

Let me in.

I’m close to begging.

The corners of her eyes well with unshed tears, and I fight the urge to brush my thumb along her cheek just so I can touch her soft skin.

“Did they die?” I prompt.

She finally looks up at me, a mix of anger and sadness written across her face.

“No, she didn’t die. But I did the day she was taken from me.”





Chapter Eleven


ELLIE