Falling for Fallon (Oak Hill 2)

“Are you sure? Letting someone dictate your life and make life-changing decisions for you sure sounds like a child to me.”

I swallowed, placing the carrot stick back down on the counter. Lupe’s round, chocolatey eyes softened. “I just want you to make sure you’re doing the right thing for you, Fallon. I’ve told you this before, and I’ll tell you again: if marrying someone—Derek, for example—for sake of the family name and to prove to your parents that you’re the daughter they’ve always wanted is what you want, then do that—but only if it makes you happy. It’s your life, Fallon, and you only get one. Remember that.”

I wanted to roll my eyes because that was Lupe’s favorite saying: You only get one life! She had told me that so many times over the years that I’d actually lost count, but each time she said it, it struck a chord.

I only get one life.

But what kind of life would I have if my parents just… disowned me? Where would I be without them?

“Oh, now stop looking like that, or I’m going to have to make you a taco.”

A small smile crept along my face. I peeked up at Lupe, and she glanced at the clock. “Fine, I’ll make you one taco if you at least think about what I’ve said. Deal?”

I smiled even wider. “Deal.”

Chapter Six

Emmett

My leg tapped up and down at the dinner table as I stared down at my now empty plate. I couldn’t get her out of my head. Fallon was like a damn siren. I’d spent one night with her, and somehow, she had embedded herself into the walls of my brain. My head was spinning. The song “Right Round” by Flo Rida was like our theme song, except for the fact that Fallon hadn’t even gone down on me.

Jesus, I couldn’t even imagine if we’d taken it that far. My dick was literally tingling at the dinner table—with my mother three feet away—thinking about Fallon and her lips traveling below my waistline.

I wanted nothing more.

“So, Emmett,” my mom started, placing her fork down. “Dawson told me that you might have a new girlfriend? Please tell me she’s better than that one hag… the redhead.”

I choked on my water because the only word I heard come out of my mother’s mouth was “head.”

Dawson snickered beside me, and I finally caught my breath. “I’m sorry, Mom, what did you say?”

She rolled her eyes. “Dawson said you have a new girlfriend, and I’m hoping she’s better than that one hag. You know… the redhead!”

I glanced over at Dawson, and his face was purple from trying to hold in his laugh.

“Carrie isn’t a hag, Mom. She’s just a liar.” I placed my water cup back down on the table and cleared my throat.

My mom shrugged. “Same difference. So, tell me more about the new girl.”

I groaned. “There is no new girl. Dawson is fucking delusional.”

“Language, Emmett! Goodness, you’re in the presence of women! Your mother being one of them!”

“Yeah! Language, Emmett!” Mia, Ivy’s younger sister, reiterated. I shot her a dirty look, which only made her laugh. Then Ivy laughed, and that caused me to chuckle along with them.

“There really isn’t a girl, Mom,” I repeated. “I don’t know what they’re talking about.”

Lie. Lie. Lie. I know, I shouldn’t have lied to my mother, but… let’s just get it out in the open: I was no saint.

“Hmmph.” My mother pouted. “Well, someone better give me some grandbabies soon or else I’m going to be upset.”

That had Ivy choking on a green bean. I taunted her with a smirk and a look that said, “Ha. Your turn.” She stuck her tongue out at me.

“Okay, new subject!” Dawson interjected, allowing Mia to come to the rescue by telling us about her latest internship fiasco. Mia, I swore to God, had the world’s funniest stories about her college experiences. And, God love her, she was always rescuing us from awkward conversations with my mother.

My mom—well, I should say my parents—and I… we didn’t get along for a large part of my life. I could lie and say that they were shitty parents and they didn’t care much about me, but I knew—now that I was older and had a better hold on reality—that they were only trying their best. They just didn’t know how to handle me.

I was a hellion as a teenager. I got into so much trouble that I was still honestly surprised I hadn’t given them both a heart attack. They tried to cage me in, and I rebelled. Hard. I’d been on probation and sent to juvie. Then, finally, what broke the camel’s back was when they’d sent me to military school. The second I’d turned eighteen and graduated, I was gone.