Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek, #3) (46)

“True, you might need someone to help or at least be around to keep an eye on you.”

I raise a brow. “Are you volunteering?”

“Uh…” He smiles nervously, which is adorable. “I wasn’t, but if you needed my help, then sure.”

I chuckle at how taken back he seems. “Sorry, that probably came off a little strong. I’m not normally this forward, but whatever pain meds they have me on are giving me loose lips.”

“Trust me, I’m aware. I don’t think you’ve said more than ten words to me at a time in the past four years. Usually, it’s to tell me off, so this is a pleasant change.”

Cringing, I chew my lower lip. “Yeah, Noah told me we weren’t exactly friends.”

“I’d say more along the lines of…frenemies? Though, not from a lack of tryin’ on my end. You recently asked me to leave you alone because I was crossin’ your boundaries and so after that, I stopped tryin’.”

His words are so sincere and soft, my emotions almost take over. I tilt my head at him, wondering what in the world would’ve made me act like that.

Normally, I’m a quiet person who prefers to keep to myself, so for me not to like someone and be that rude wouldn’t be for nothing.

But fuck, I can’t remember.

Part of me wishes I could because it’s going to bother me until then, but the other part…

Would it be so bad to like him? My dating history, from what I do know, consists of less than two people. One from high school and one shortly after graduation. So it’s been a few years. But racing became my priority over everything else, and I didn’t feel the need to date.

Landen’s attractive, seems kind to have put up with me in the first place and still support my career and come to my races, and if he’s Noah’s brother, how bad can he be?

“How old are you?” I ask.

“Twenty-nine, soon to be the big three-oh.”

“And you’re not married?”

He shifts, crossing his ankle over his knee. “Nope. Not even close to marriage.”

“Noah said you have a girlfriend.”

I give myself a mental pat on the back for managing to squeeze in that question. Better to know for certain before I get my hopes up.

“I do not. I was seeing someone for like a week and a half. She wanted to move faster than I did, so I ended it.”

My brows lift. “After less than two weeks?”

“Yeah, I guess I wasn’t as ready to move on as much as I thought.”

I’m tempted to ask what that means, but I think better of it. If he wanted me to know, he would’ve said.

Grinning, I continue, “Well, I’m nowhere near marriage either. I’m pretty sure. Unless there’s a boyfriend I’ve forgotten about. But if I had one, he’d be here, right?”

“I would assume so, yes.” He chuckles. “Although you’re close with Easton, I think.”

“Oh shoot, I should call him. If I was stayin’ at his uncle’s ranch, he woulda been at the rodeo. Do you know where my phone is?”

“No, I haven’t seen it.”

“I normally keep it in my pocket. Could I borrow your phone to call mine? Maybe I’ll hear it ring or vibrate somewhere in here.”

“Yep, of course.”

He unlocks the screen and then hands it over. I smile when I see a photo of him and his siblings on his home page.

I input my number and a contact name pops up.

Little Devil.

Where have I heard that before?

Wait…

“Is this what you call me?” I ask, turning the phone around to show him.

“Uh…yeah.” His cheeks tint with embarrassment. “You weren’t a fan, but it suited you well.”

I burst out laughing. “I’m so confused by our relationship.”

His smile widens. “You and me both, honestly.”

Hitting the call button, I wait and listen for it. It’s faint, but I hear it.

“I think it’s in one of these closets…” Landen walks over and opens a few of the doors. “Aha. Here we go.”

He brings over a white plastic bag that has my clothes and boots.

Digging around, I find my cell in my jeans.

“Whew, thank goodness. Miraculously, still in perfect condition.” Once I unlock it, I check my messages and see a few from Easton. I quickly shoot him a text so he knows I’m okay.

“My hat’s not in here…” I look inside the bag again.

“Oh, it’s in my truck. I grabbed it off the ground from when you fell. I knew how important it was to you and didn’t want you to lose it.”

My heart thuds harder than before. “Wow. That was very nice of you, thank you.”

An expression of amusement covers his face as if to hear me talk to him this way is shocking.

“You’re welcome.” He shoots me a wink and the fluttering in my chest continues.

I still can’t figure out what would’ve made me not like him. He’s definitely my type. Polite. Considerate. Willing to stay here with me after he’s probably had a busy day. So why? Why did I hate this man?

“Any chance you know why I didn’t like you?”

He shakes his head. “I’ve been askin’ you for four years to tell me.”