Page 89 of Fall Over You

Becca squeezes my hand again and smiles over at me. “I’m pretty sure that’s half the fun.”

Ellie falls asleep on the way home from my parents’ house. I glance back at her before I talk.

“Great save back there.”

“Oh, with the loan thing? That was nothing. I was about to fan myself over how you stuck up for me. We were one more ‘my wife’ away from that baseball bat coming out.”

I know she’s making light of the situation, but I’m still mad at my mom.

“She was being ridiculous,” I grumble. “I’m sorry she talked about you like that.”

Becca pops her bubble gum. “Nothing I haven’t heard before.”

My hands tighten on the steering wheel. “Anyway. Thanks for thinking fast.”

“Hey, we gotta sell this thing. We’re a team. We each did our part.”

If Becca and I are a team, then why does everything inside me scream that I might want her as more than a teammate? “Yeah. Pretty good team.”

I stew in the silence while confusing feelings swirl through me. I’m pissed at my mom. I want to protect Becca from my mom and anyone else who might criticize her. I want Becca. I’m scared of putting myself out there again, because what if some part of what my mom said was true?

She pauses. “So, when we get back, do you want to hang out for a little bit? Watch TV maybe? Not sure what normal married . . . teams do.”

I tense, because where do all those feelings leave me? I need more time. I need to be sure. Because if I drag Becca into all this nonsense too soon, it’ll be harder to untangle it as we go.

“I’ll probably put El to bed, and then work on the cottage.”

Becca is quiet for a moment. “You can take a night off.”

“Not if you want it done by the Pumpkin Smash.”

“I can . . . come help you?” she offers.

It’s hard for me to do this. Almost impossible. I want to let her in, but I know myself. I need to process this or I’ll be miserable company anyway.

“I think I need some time to myself, if that’s okay. I kinda need to go finish up something at the garage more.”

“Oh, right. Sure. Of course. Take whatever time you need. Just let me know if you want my help with anything. You know I can do cottage work.”

I look over at her in the glow of the dashboard lights, and her confident facade is gone. Still, she forces a soft smile. I reach over to grab her hand. “I will.”

Her other hand gently settles on the back of mine, sending a chill that raises every hair on my arm. She’s so sweet to me and I know, without a doubt, that I don’t deserve this woman, but I’m going to do my best to show her I care.

THIRTY-FOUR

BECCA

In the dim morning light, I see something colorful propped on top of my chicken enclosure’s fence. I smile as it comes more into view with each step I take. The colors are kind of haphazard and they’re a little wilted, but a bundle of flowers sits there.

“Morning, girls,” I say to my chickens as I pick up the bouquet. “Did a grumpy bear come by here last night?

They’re bound by a zip tie and a Paint Auto business card sticks out the top.

Reba,

I hope it’s ok I picked some flowers. I’ll help you plant new ones.

You deserve every single flower.