Page 75 of Worth the Fall
“It’s settled then!” Jo said excitedly. “Oh, Allegra, we have so much fun on the road! We’ve got our own little convoy!”
“If you want us to call a cab and get you on a plane at any point, we’d be more than happy,” Dennis said with assurance.
“I’ll call AnnaJane, Erin, and Miley and see who would like to join us!” Jo got up and ran to the other room, perhaps to call the girls right away.
Dennis got up and started clearing the plates, a soft grin stuck on his face.
Dean stole the last muffin and followed his dad into the kitchen, complaining about a bruised shin.
Colton laced his fingers in mine, squeezing them. “Ally, if you’re doin’ this just to make me happy, I-”
I squeezed his hand back. “I want to,” I said honestly. “It’ll be really fun!”
He leaned forward and kissed my cheek, his morning stubble tickling my skin. “See? I knew you were a country girl.”
I smiled at him, my heart begging to tell him my entire story. His soft green eyes told me they’d understand, and I was dying to let someone in my cold heart.
But not right now.
Dean threw a towel at Colton, making him jump in surprise. “You know what that means, Colty!”
Colton gave him a teasingly sour look.
“Armilloby morning!”
“Oh, shoot,” I said out loud before I realized I had opened my mouth. I smoothed my hair. “Um, I need to go make a few phone calls realquick, if that’s alright?”
“Yeah, take your time!” Colton said, oblivious to my sudden shock. He grabbed my plate and glass, starting to sing as he went. “Everything that I’ve got is just what I’ve got on!”
I smiled at Dean and Colton, who were now singing the song as loud and off-key as they possibly could.
I stepped out the sliding glass door and clicked on my mother’s contact before I could change my mind.
“Allegra Ford, I have been calling you for days!” She picked up on the second ring and immediately yelled. I put the phone on speaker so I wouldn’t have her yelling directly in my ear.
“Sorry, Mom.” I settled myself into the porch swing, cuddling a throw pillow against my chest.
The yard took my breath away all over again.
It’s green grass that stretched for at least an acre, the rows of corrals, the gorgeous green pastures, the giant practice arenain the big red shop; it was a rodeo family’s dream.
Colton’s sweats were still on me, drowning me in comfort. I slept in them all night, bringing the sweatshirt to my nose every once in a while to inhale his sweet scent.
“I’ve been really busy with work, in fact-”
“What if it had been an emergency?” She continued onher rampage. “What if I were dying and you were being too selfish to pick up my calls?”
I swallowed hard. “I’m really sorry, Mom. What’s been going on?”
“I’m gettin’ evicted, Peach.”
I felt a hard punch to my gut. “You’re what?”
“Are you deaf?” She screamed, her accent as thick as honey, warping her words. “I said I am gettin’ kicked out of my house!”
I was so frustratedI could die. “Mom, what happened to the money?”
“What money?”
