Every Time I Fall (Orchid Valley 3)

Abbi’s cheeks flame red, as if her mom’s going to infer everything else she’s been doing for me.

Before she can say anything, Mama Matthews lets out an ear-piercing screech of excitement and claps her hands. “That’s right, she does! Isn’t this just perfect? I always knew you two would end up together. When my Abbi was fifteen and crushing on you so hard, I told her she just needed to wait, that one day you’d look at her and see her for the beautiful woman she was. Took you longer than I thought, but you got there.”

I clutch Abbi’s hand in mine. “I noticed a long time ago,” I say roughly.

A booming voice reaches us from inside the house. “You’re serious about my girl, right?” Abbi’s dad calls. “None of this casual stuff you kids are all about these days?”

Abbi’s pink cheeks go darker, and she casts her gaze down as her mom leads us into the house. “Yes, sir,” I say, coming face to face with Mr. Matthews in the foyer. I lift my chin and meet his eyes. “Very serious.”

Mr. Matthews studies me a long time then smacks me on the shoulder. “Of course you are. You’re a good kid.”

Leading us to the dining room, Mama Matthews chatters on about what she prepared for dinner and what she’s going to send home with me now that she knows I’m “struggling to keep meat on my bones.” A half-dozen side dishes are scattered around the large table already, but Mama Matthews excuses herself to grab the turkey from the kitchen, leaving Abbi and I alone in the dining room to take our seats.

I grew up thinking Kace and Abbi had the perfect family. Not that they were ever truly perfect. They fought, had disagreements and misunderstandings, but when it mattered they showed up for each other. That’s the part that seemed so perfect to me. The Matthews were my example of stability. They showed me how a family could work. How I wanted my family to work. I still want that, and the easy acceptance from Abbi’s parents is humbling enough that my throat is tight and emotion weighs heavily on my chest.

“Hey.” Abbi turns in her seat and leans toward me. “Are you okay?”

I meet her beautiful brown eyes. Happiness and contentment fill my chest, and for the hundredth time in the last ten days. I would’ve missed this if we’d never given us a chance—if I’d gone on believing Abbi could never want someone like me or if she’d continued to believe I couldn’t really want her. Thank God the walls we erect around our hearts can be knocked down. “I’m amazing. You?”

“So good.”

“I thought I’d get more of the third degree,” I admit. “I got off easy.”

“They already know you. There’s no reason for the third degree.” Her eyes shine with trust and love, and my heart swells.

“I love you.” The words sound husky, like I had to squeeze them out around all this emotion.

“I love you too.” She drags her bottom lip between her teeth. When it pops free, it’s pink and swollen, and I can’t help but steal a quick kiss that becomes not so quick the moment my lips touch hers.

“Man, that’s my sister who you’ve got your hands all over,” Kace says behind me.

I pull my mouth off Abbi’s—and my wandering hand from her waist. I turn to where he and Stella stand at the head of the table. “Get used to it, Matthews.”

My sister grins and jabs Kace in the side with her elbow. “He won’t say another word. Especially since that would make him a total hypocrite.” She flashes him a mock scowl, but her eyes are dancing with amusement.

Kace drops his mouth to Stella’s and kisses her. “Good point,” he murmurs against her lips.

“What’s going on in here?” Hope asks, her curls bouncing as she runs into the room.

“Just getting ready to eat, kiddo,” Abbi says, patting the empty chair beside her. “Sit by me?”

“Yay!” Hope skips around the table as Mama Matthews returns carrying a bottle of wine, her husband carrying the turkey behind her.

We all settle into our seats and the familiar ritual of Sunday dinner. Every once in a while, I reach over to squeeze Abbi’s hand or touch her arm to make sure this is real. To make sure I’m not dreaming. She responds to each touch with a smile.

After dinner, her parents retire to the living room to watch their favorite Sunday night news show, and Hope goes to the toy room to play. Stella, Kace, Abbi, and I linger at the table, chatting and sipping wine. It’s so comfortable and familiar, as if we’ve always been two couples.

Kace is telling Stella about the latest snag in his bathroom remodel when Abbi leans over and touches her lips to my ear. “Come upstairs with me. I want to give you a tour of my childhood bedroom.”