Page 85 of Forbidden to Fall

He smoothed his mustache with his thumb and forefinger. “I’ll have you know, this ‘stache is the talk of the school.”

“I believe it.”

“Half the seniors are trying to grow their own.” He pulled away from the curb. “What happened to your car?”

“Faulty fuel pump, Dom says.”

“So, how’ve you been getting around?”

That was the exact question I hadn’t wanted him to ask. “Um…the Carvers let me borrow their truck.”

Wade’s brows went up.

“They need me at the farm,” I defended. “But I didn’t think anyone would appreciate me showing up in it today.”

“Definitely not.”

“Where’s Ari?” I asked to change the subject. “I was hoping you’d bring her.”

He gave a little snort. “Since when have you known me to bring a girl home?”

I shrugged. “Never. But you’ve also never liked a girl as much as Ari.”

“Says who?”

I shot him an unamused look. “The only two people who don’t know how much you like Ari are you and Ari.”

“Pfft. What about you? Why aren’t you bringing anyone to dinner? James couldn’t come?”

I snorted. “You hoping to instigate World War III at the dinner table?”

“It would liven things up for sure. You’re at the maple farm all the time, aren’t you? Bennett said you two came by his shop together.”

I sighed. Small town gossip was the worst sometimes. I was sure Bennett had mentioned it thoughtlessly rather than meaning to cause trouble, but it made me wonder who else knew. “For work stuff.”

“Uh-huh.”

I rolled my eyes. “I figured you’d rather I bring these than a guy anyway.” I held up the blondies.

Wade smiled. “You were right.” He reached over, and I smacked his hand.

When we pulled up to the house, Ryan’s truck was already there.

I took in a big breath as I got out. It had been longer than usual since I’d seen him, and after last night, I had a guilty conscience—not exactly the makings of a happy dinner ahead.

Ryan pulled me into his usual bear hug, though—the kind that squeezed every last ounce of the air out of my lungs.

In fact, everything was normal as we sat down for dinner. The usual banter and antics, the good food, the laughter. Ryan and Wade reminisced about the time they’d listed the high school for sale on Facebook Marketplace—something Dad, the principal at the time, had not found funny—laughing until they had tears streaming down their faces.

I glanced at Lily, who had Mia on her lap but was watching my brothers with a big smile.

There had been a few times back in their dating years when I’d thought she and Ryan wouldn’t make it. They’d been off and on so many times, it had felt impossible that they’d ever stay on. But they had.

My stomach swam as I remembered the days after Lily and Ryan’s final breakup. Ryan had acted like it was no big deal when he’d let us know, but he’d been secretly miserable. I’d stopped at the closed bathroom door to take a shower one night and heard Ryan throwing up.

The next day I’d heard about James kissing Lily.

Ryan put on a good face, but he felt emotions deeply.