Worth the Fall (Sugar Mountain #1)

FAMILY DINNERS AT THE FARM

brOOKLYN

A loud knock on my front door startled me. I tossed down the book I had been reading and pulled the door open without even checking the peephole to see who was there. It wasn’t like many people stopped by my place, unannounced. You couldn’t get past the security gate simply because you wanted to.

“Matthew,” I said as the youngest O’Grady brother stared at me with his perfect face and eyes that were a little too like Thomas’s, but not quite the same.

“Do you like my brother?” he asked bluntly.

My mouth dropped open slightly at the question. “What?”

“You heard me. Do you like my brother or not?”

My eyes looked behind him and around him, as if searching for Thomas hiding somewhere and listening in. “Why are you asking me that?”

He ran his hand down his face, the same way I’d seen his brother do before. “Too many questions, Brooklyn. Do you like him—yes or no?”

I tried to swallow, but my throat instantly felt thick and dry. “Yes.”

“I knew it. I need you to get ready. We’re leaving in an hour.” He gave me a head nod like we did this sort of thing all the time.

“Where are we going?” I emphasized the we because Matthew and I did not do things together.

“My dad’s house for dinner. You’re coming. No arguments. Get dressed, sweetheart. Thomas will be there.” He gave me a wink before taking the whole three steps it took to get to his front door. “One hour.” He held up one finger in the air before disappearing inside, leaving me standing there with a million questions and shaking knees.

I supposed that I could have told Matthew no, fought him on his demands, but part of me wanted to go, even if I was currently freaking out about it. Dinner at his dad’s house. With Thomas. And the rest of his family.

Shutting the door, I hustled back inside, searched for my phone, and pulled up Lana’s number. She answered before I even heard it ring.

“There’s my best friend,” she sang into the phone as I walked into my bedroom and hopped up onto my bed.

“Help me,” I whispered.

Her voice instantly shifted. “Are you okay? Did someone kidnap you? Drop a pin. Sven and I will be on our way. Sven, grab the go bag,” she shouted.

I pulled the phone away from my ear, put it on speaker, and dropped it on the pillow next to me.

“Why do you have a go bag, and what does that have to do with me being kidnapped?” I asked as a slew of new questions now ran through my mind. One of them being, Just how crazy is my best friend?

“So, you were kidnapped?” she asked seriously.

“No, Lana. Focus.”

“I am focused. On saving you. What do you see? Do you smell anything? What can you hear around you? Are you calling me from a trunk? Can you kick out a taillight?”

“Oh my gosh,” I groaned. “Lana! I was not kidnapped, you loon. I’m sitting safely in the bedroom of my condo.”

“Oh. Well, why didn’t you say that?” Her tone shifted again as she completely calmed down. “Never mind, Sven. False alarm,” she shouted, and I heard him yell something back, but couldn’t understand what he’d said. “Unless it isn’t. Hang up and video-chat me for proof.”

She ended the call, and I sat there, staring at the now-blank screen. I didn’t have time for this.

I took a picture of me sitting on my bed and sent it to her before calling her back, not on video, just to be spiteful.

“This picture could be a month old,” she said as she answered.

I squeezed my eyes shut and breathed out a quick huff. “Lana, listen to me. Matthew just invited me to dinner with his family.”

“Matthew? What? Are you just going to go through all the O’Grady brothers and leave none for anyone else?” She tsked me through the phone. “So selfish since the divorce.”

“Why are you like this?” I asked through my annoyance, which was slowly but surely growing by the second.

“Fine. I’ll be good. But why the heck is Matthew inviting you to some family dinner? I thought we loved Thomas and wanted to have all his babies?” Her voice took on a dreamy sound.

She’d been Team Thomas ever since I’d started working at the resort. Not to mention the fact that her favor for him had only grown tenfold since he’d punched Eli at the saloon. Which honestly, I understood completely because my favor for him had grown after that moment too.

“We don’t love anyone,” I argued, but I wasn’t so sure what it was that I was feeling for Thomas. It was definitely more than like, but love? That felt like a leap.

“Denial is just a river in...” she started before stopping. “Whatever that saying is. You know what I mean. You do like Thomas. You’re just scared of him.”

“Why would I be scared of him?”

I wasn’t scared of Thomas. He wasn’t scary. He didn’t scare me. She was ridiculous, and I wasn’t sure why I’d even called her at all.

“I’ve been waiting for this conversation.” She sounded a little too excited.

We’d only had brief texts and quick chats the past week or so. She’d been booked like crazy at the hair salon, and I’d been working a lot too. When either one of us did have a free moment, the other one didn’t. Our timing had been shit lately.

“Anyway, as I was saying, you’re scared because you know that being with Thomas means something. It could never just be a casual fling or a one-night stand. He’s a single dad. He can’t do casual. And for some reason, in that gorgeous little head of yours, you probably think it’s too soon to move on.”

“Isn’t it?” I meant to say the words to myself, but I’d said them out loud on accident.

I heard her sigh. “There’s no timeline for these kinds of things, no matter what society wants you to believe. Are you supposed to stay single for a year to prove some kind of point? To what? To who?”

“Don’t you think it seems fast though? Like, how can I want to date someone else already?” I asked her questions that I honestly should have been asking myself.

“Look, I know you’re worried about what people will say. And don’t even think of arguing with me about that. Whether you want to admit it or not, you do not like people in this town thinking badly about you,” she said as if she were delivering some great revelation.

But it was easy for Lana to say all of that. She’d never been the topic of the Sugar Mountain gossip mill before. It wasn’t enjoyable, being judged and whispered about behind your back. People thought they knew you when they really knew nothing at all. The gossip would end at some point, but in the meantime, I really hated it.

“I don’t enjoy it.”

“So, what happens if you move on? And with Thomas, of all people?” She gasped dramatically. “Will the whole town believe that you cheated and that’s why you left your husband and ended your marriage?”

“I didn’t cheat,” was the only response that came out of my mouth.

“My point is that it doesn’t matter if they think you did or not. You know the truth. And the truth always comes out. Eventually.” She said it with such force that I had no choice but to believe her.

I stayed silent for too long, my thoughts swirling in a sea of uncertainty and chaos. Maybe I was scared. Scared of being wrong... of what people thought... of what I thought about myself... of how moving on made me look—to everyone else and to me. What kind of person walked out of one life and straight into another?

“Brooky,” Lana practically purred into the phone. “Listen to me. You’re allowed to move on when you’re ready, and no one else gets to tell you when that is. It’s okay to like someone new. And it doesn’t make you a bad person if you have feelings for someone else already. You’re allowed to be happy. You deserve to be happy. That’s why you left Eli in the first place, remember?”

“Of course I remember,” I whispered as I tried to keep it together, but all of her words were suddenly striking a nerve.

“You’re not doing anything wrong. You want to be with Thomas, then be with him. You want to marry the guy and have ten thousand perfect little O’Grady babies, then I say go for it. Because if you don’t do it, someone else will.”

Damn. That last sentence struck more than just a nerve. I hated every single thing about it. Thomas ending up with someone else when I hadn’t even gotten the chance made me want to throw up.

I’d fought so hard for my own happiness, and here I was, denying myself exactly that... and for what?

“Are you still there?” Lana asked.

“I’m here. Processing,” I answered truthfully. “But you’ve forgotten one very important thing, Lana.”

“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

“The guy has to actually want me back.”

She started laughing. It was loud and filled the empty space in my room. “He punched your ex-husband because of the things he was saying about you . He escorted him out of the resort on your behalf. He put him on a never enter my property again or I’ll feed you to the dragons list or some shit,” she said in a masculine voice before continuing in her own, “And then he made out with you on his couch. In his house! I don’t think Thomas O’Grady goes around kissing women he’s not interested in.”

I did not need to be convinced of the things that she was saying. I’d taken all those events as signs that he was interested in me too. But they hadn’t been enough. The consistency wasn’t there. And just when I thought that maybe we were taking a step in one direction, we’d stop moving altogether, which made me question everything.

“I get all that, Lana. I do. But you didn’t see his face when I left that night. He looked like I’d disappointed him somehow. And it’s not like he’s asked me out again or anything. And when we’re at work, he definitely doesn’t act like he made out with me. I don’t know. He’s so hard to read.”

I realized in that moment that Thomas’s inconsistency had forced me to inadvertently question myself and my desire to move on. His wishy-washy attitude had made me feel like I was doing something wrong in some way.

“What do you expect him to do? Throw you up against his desk and screw you with the door open?” she asked, and my mind instantly started picturing it.

“Might be nice.” I grinned to myself.

“I bet it would. Hussy,” she teased.

“He’s distant. That’s all I’m saying. Something changed.”

“But you’re still going to show up at his family dinner tonight anyway? The balls on this one, ladies and gentlemen,” she announced like a radio DJ, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Ugh,” I groaned. “What am I thinking? I can’t go there. It’s not appropriate, and it would only confuse Clara.”

“You’re such a good stepmom already,” Lana cooed, and I practically choked, just trying to breathe. “Listen, it’s obvious that the two of you suck at communicating.”

“Hey! We had a really great conversation that night at his house. It was open and honest and—” I started to explain before she cut me off.

“Then, what ruined it?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted honestly. I’d gone over the things we’d said to each other at least a hundred times, and nothing stood out as any kind of deal-breaker.

“And you haven’t asked him. Great job.” She slow-clapped in the background, and I rolled my eyes.

“Fine. I suck at this. Happy?” I asked because I guessed I had been avoiding Thomas, too, in my own way. “Now, what do I do about dinner? Do I go?”

“Of course you go! If Matthew asked you, there has to be a reason, and I’m dying to know what it is. You go get yourself dressed all cute. You show up there and get your O’Grady brother, you lucky bitch. Then, you report back to me and tell me every single detail.”

When she put it that way, she made it sound easy. Like Thomas was some kind of goal I could accomplish with just a pretty top and a smile.

“All right. I need to get ready. Thank you,” I breathed into the phone, grateful for her insight and her honesty. She’d given me a lot to process.

“Anytime. And, Brooklyn?” She stopped me from ending the call.

“Yeah?”

“Just so you know...” She paused, like she was unsure if she should say whatever was about to come next. “I’ve heard that Eli’s doing all right.”

My chest tightened for only a split second. “What do you mean?”

“Apparently, some women like fixing broken things.”

I shook my head, still not understanding what she was getting at. “English, please.”

“He’s dating. He’s been on at least three dates that I’ve heard about since the saloon incident.” She let out a low whistle. “Are you okay? Does that make it better or worse? Should I not have told you?”

I blew out a soft breath. “I want him to be happy. I’m glad he’s dating. Maybe it will make him less angry at me.”

“I kind of thought the same thing.”

I always thought that when Eli moved on, I’d be magically cured of all my guilt and shame. Like him being with a new person would somehow be proof that I’d done the right thing, as if I needed more. But my feelings about it all really had nothing to do with Eli and everything to do with me.

“Go. And tell Thomas you want to ride him. Hard. Love you,” Lana said before ending the call.

I told her I loved her back, but she was already gone.

M atthew knocked on my front door exactly one hour later. I’d changed from my comfortable leisurewear into some knockout jeans and a tight-fitted sweater. Now that fall had officially arrived and we were barreling into winter, the air was chilly in the evenings. No more shorts and tank tops until summer came back around.

Matthew’s eyes roved the length of my body, and even though I didn’t know him that well, I smacked his chest with my hand anyway.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“He’s going to lose his mind,” he said, grinning, and I suddenly felt like this was a bad idea. “Come on. Stop second-guessing.” He waved, and I followed him down the stairs and into his lifted truck that was already ready to go.

Did every O’Grady have the ability to read minds, or was mine just easy for some reason?

“This thing is a monster,” I said as I attempted to hoist myself inside.

“Just like my—” he started, and I made a frowny face.

“Don’t finish that sentence,” I warned, but he only laughed as he stepped into the driver’s side with no effort at all.

“My skills on the ice, Brooklyn. It’s a monster, just like I am when I play hockey. That’s all I was gonna say.”

He lied so effortlessly, but even I had to admit that he was charming.

Little shit.

The gate to our complex swung open as we neared. Once there was enough clearance, Matthew stepped on the gas, and the truck made the most obnoxious sound. Everyone in Sugar Mountain must hear him coming from a mile away. I wondered how I never did when we were home, but when he lessened the pressure on the pedal, the roaring faded.

“Are you sure it’s okay that I’m coming?” I fidgeted in the front seat of Matthew’s truck.

My confidence started to wobble. Mostly because I was scared of being rejected by Thomas, not because I’d realized that I actually wanted to try with him. Which was truly a revelation all on its own.

“It’s more than okay. Clara’s the only girl there, and she loves you. Plus, this will be fun as hell to watch.” Matthew grinned, and I knew he knew far more about the situation than he was willing to share.

“Should I at least tell Thomas that I’m going to be there?” I asked, holding my phone in my hand.

“Don’t you dare. That’s gonna be the best part.”

“Matthew,” I groaned.

How bad does jumping out of a moving car hurt? I wondered.

“Listen, I love my brother and want to see him happy,” he said with a glance in my direction before he focused back on the road.

“But?” I asked, and he shook his head, his eyes still focused straight ahead.

“But nothing. He likes you. And he hasn’t liked anyone in a really long time,” he said as if he was delivering some sort of news flash.

“Okay. So, why then? Thomas doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who needs his baby brother to do his dirty work for him,” I said, realizing that I’d just referred to myself as dirty work . Whatever the hell that even meant.

Matthew looked at me again, and his lips pulled up in a slight grin, but not a full one. “I shouldn’t tell you this, but I’ve already gone this far. My brother doesn’t think you like him like he likes you.”

It sounded so immature and childish when he phrased it that way. But I guessed it was because his statement was so simple in its delivery.

“What? Why would he think that? I practically threw myself at him the other night at his house,” I admitted before I could stop myself.

“Ha! You did? He didn’t tell us that.” Matthew laughed and made a right turn onto a dirt road that looked like it went on forever.

I knew this was where they’d grown up; everyone knew where the O’Grady farm was, but I’d never been here before.

“We’re here,” Matthew said as he pulled his truck to a stop in one of the makeshift parking spots in the dirt behind a modest two-story home.

I hopped out, hoping not to break my ankle in the process.

Fields and trees lined the property, and I swore I saw a few horses out there, but couldn’t be certain. There were two other structures; one of them was a barn, and the other looked like a modified garage, but I wasn’t sure about that either.

All I knew was that it looked peaceful as I stood there, taking it all in.

“Come on,” Matthew said as we walked toward what looked like the back door. He held it open for me and placed his hand on my back as I walked inside, unsure of what was waiting.

“Waffle Princess!” Clara shouted first, and my eyes swept the room in search of Thomas.

When I found him, he did not look happy. No, the man was seething, his eyes focused solely on the small of my back, where Matthew’s hand currently was. I shrugged away from it, and I heard Matthew chuckle behind me.

Clara collided with my legs, and I bent down to give her a proper hug.

“I missed you!” she said, her little voice so pure and joyful.

“I missed you too,” I said, meaning it.

This little girl carried so much light inside of her that the world darkened a little when she wasn’t around.

“You’ll sit next to me, okay? I didn’t know you were coming. If I did, I would have been even more excited!” she said with a twirl, and I noticed her mismatched shoes and smiled to myself.

“I’d love to sit next to you, if that’s okay,” I answered as I stood back up.

“Hey, Brooklyn. It’s so very nice to see you.” Patrick came over and swept me into a hug. He lifted me up in the air, creating a scene that I quickly realized was done purely to torment Thomas.

“I didn’t know you were bringing a date, Matthew,” Mr. O’Grady announced from his seat at the head of the table. “Hello again, Brooklyn.”

“Hi.” My voice came out shaky. “Thank you for having me. I’m sorry I just showed up here, unannounced apparently,” I ground out before finding Matthew and socking his arm.

“Hey,” he complained as he rubbed it like I’d hurt him.

Thomas’s chair screeched against the wood as he tossed it behind him and stormed away from the dinner table without saying a single word. He shoved the front door open so hard that I swore it almost broke off the hinges.

“You trying to kill your brother?” Mr. O’Grady asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He seemed to know exactly what his sons were up to.

“It’s fun, pushing his buttons,” Matthew answered as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

“He seems really upset,” I countered, unsure if I should be the one to run after him or not.

“Well, this one called you my date.” Matthew gave a nod toward his dad, and I hadn’t missed him calling me that. “Don’t act all innocent, old man.”

Mr. O’Grady threw both hands in the air right as Clara walked up to Matthew.

“Uncle Matthew.” She pointed a finger at him and frowned. “You made Daddy mad. I don’t know why, but I’m mad at you too.”

God, I love this little girl.

“You won’t be mad for long,” he said as he leaned forward and reached for one of the biscuits sitting in the middle of the table. “I’m playing matchmaker, sweet Clarabel.”

“Matchmaker?” Clara asked, but her angry expression remained.

“Watch and learn, kiddo. Brooklyn, go get your man.” He thumbed toward the door.

It was clear that no one else was going to go after him and that this whole thing had been orchestrated to bring us together in the first place. So, I did as I had been instructed and went to get my man .