Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek, #3) (60)

“I bet this was a great place to grow up,” I say once we walk inside with the groceries. There’s a rustic feel to it with lots of cozy vibes and family photos on the wall.

“It was hectic, that’s for sure. But yeah, it was fun.”

“Ellie, darlin’!” Mrs. Hollis grabs the bags out of my arms, sets them on the counter, and then engulfs me in a hug. “It’s so good to see you. How’re you doing?”

“I’m good. Considering, I mean.” I smile and then get a hug from Gramma Grace. I’ve only met her a few times, but this family is full of huggers, so I accept my fate.

“I’m glad to hear it. I reached out to your parents when I heard and they were so worried, but it comes with the territory of your kids ridin’ horses professionally. When Noah got hurt, I banned her from ever trick ridin’ again.”

Landen snorts. “Yeah, that didn’t last long.”

“Wait, I remember that. She fractured her ankle and broke some ribs, right?”

“Oh…that you remember.” Landen groans, putting away the groceries while Gramma Grace adds ingredients to the mixer. They’ve already started baking and cooking, and it smells delicious whatever it is.

Mrs. Hollis chuckles. “My kids have been givin’ me heart attacks since the day they were born, so I knew the fear your parents must’ve been feelin’.”

“Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to convince me to slow down,” I admit, leaning against the island counter.

“And would you?” she asks.

I think about the past few years and how much I’ve enjoyed traveling, racing, and pushing myself to do better at each event. The feelings I get while riding are irreplaceable.

“No, I don’t think so. I love it too much.”





Chapter Twenty


LANDEN




Once we’re done chatting with Mom and unloading all the bags, I take Ellie to my place so I can finally put my groceries away. She’s never been here before and now I wish I would’ve cleaned up first.

But if she minds, she doesn’t make it known. In fact, she helps herself to looking through my cabinets and drawers, snooping around as if she hopes something will trigger a memory.

“Satisfied?” I muse, watching her from my couch as she looks at my photos hanging on the wall.

“If I’ve been here before, nothing’s clicking.”

“Nope, you haven’t.”

She glances at me over her shoulder. “How many girls have been?”

I chuckle at the way she snuck in that question so effortlessly. “Are we havin’ the body count talk?”

“Body count? Are we talkin’ about murders or sexual partners?”

I blow out a tense breath. “Honestly, murders would be a more comfortable topic.”

“So I’m guessing you’ve slept with a lot of women.”

“Depends what you consider a lot.”

“Well…” She paces around the living room. “Five would be a lot to me. But I’m only twenty-three.”

“Right…”

“And you’re twenty-nine, so…probably close to that number.” The way she says it sounds like she’s asking for confirmation rather than being certain.

“Twenty-nine women?”

“Yeah, I’d consider that to be a lot.”

“Okay…” I scratch along my jawline, curious as to where this is leading.

“So…have you slept with a lot of women?”

“In terms of what you consider a lot, then no.”

Not even close to that.

She raises a brow. “Really?”

“Why do you sound surprised?”

Her gaze roams up and down my body. “Because you’re hot.”

I laugh under my breath, still not used to Ellie calling me anything but how annoying I am. “As are you. Doesn’t mean I’d assume you’ve slept with a lot of men.”

“Okay, fair point. That was a little presumptuous of me. But I don’t put myself out there. I didn’t go out in search of a hookup. As far as I remember, anyway.”

“I pretty much figured that out since all I saw you do was eat, breathe, and sleep barrel racing. What about in high school?”

“I had two boyfriends. Slept with one of them. The other guy I slept with was after high school.”

“Only two?”

“Yep.”

“Okay. I’d never judge you for your past anyway.”

She sits on my coffee table in front of me, and I cage her legs in between my thighs. Leaning forward, I wrap my fingers around her knees and pull her closer.

“Is that what you’re worried about?” I ask. “That I’m going to judge you?”

“No, I guess if you’ve been obsessed with me for years, you wouldn’t care anyway.”

Smiling at her honesty, I nod. “Accurate. So tell me what you’re thinkin’.”

She pinches her lips together as her cheeks flush. “That I’m not experienced enough for someone like you.”

“Why would you think that?”

“I spent my first week home doing nothing but sleeping, pacing around my house, and thinkin’ about the guy I met in the hospital. I couldn’t do much else because it hurt my head to look at the TV screen, and I couldn’t read without my vision going blurry, so you were on a constant loop in my mind. Then, this past week, I spent it texting you as much as I could and drivin’ myself crazy overthinking everything about you.”