Page 7 of Falling Back to You

This was my shot at redemption.

Blue and red lights danced in my rearview, and I nearly gave up the ghost. Not the answer to prayer I was looking for. But clearly the Lord had a sense of humour. Since when was parking on the shoulder an offense? Oh wait, this was Serenity Springs—rules didn’t have to make sense. And the town clearly hadn’t changed if the police force was tasked with harassing innocent civilians.

“Mace, I gotta go.”

“Oh my gosh!” she gasped. “Those are police lights! Are you getting arrested? Do I need to have bail money ready? What could you possibly have done sitting on the side of the road? Do you guys even have a prison in that town?”

“No one’s going to jail.” I hoped. With how my luck was going these days, a night in jail would be icing on the cake.

A tall, broad-shouldered man unfolded himself from the cruiser and strode confidently towards me. It took point-two seconds to recognize the reddish brown hair and navy uniform.

“No, no, no, no!” I moaned. It can’t be.

“Is it your ex?” Macy shrieked. “I thought he was a hockey player.”

“It’s his brother.”

“Uh . . . a married one or a single one?”

Was that hope in her voice? “Dallas.”

“Married. Got it.” She sighed. “Just be calm and collected. Who am I kidding? You always are.”

I would have laughed if I wasn’t so nauseous. “Bye, Mace.”

“Wait, let me—”

I hung up before she could try talking me into letting her witness my humiliation any further.

My phone pinged.

MACY:

Rude *mad face emoji*

Call me when you’re done. I want the details.

And I’ll be waiting by my phone in case I’m your one call from prison. *kissy emoji* *laughing emoji*

The tall shadow tapped on my window. Dallas Satterfield. My ex-fiancé’s oldest brother. I should have known I couldn’t fly under the radar of the family I could have called my own if my stupidity hadn’t gotten in the way.

I rolled down the window, trying to shove my burning shame back into its pigeonhole of organized emotions. There was an abundance of humble pie in my future—starting now. I stared straight ahead, even when his boots crunched on the gravel as he shifted.

Dallas ducked down, wind ruffling his hair. “Noelle.”

I swallowed hard. Time to borrow Macy’s mantra—be calm. “Dallas. Is admiring the scenery a crime now?”

So much for chill, Macy lectured in my head like the little Lizzie McGuire cartoon character.

Dallas’s eyes settled heavily on me. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but now I was pitying every bad guy who had to sit through his bad-cop routine. He’d perfected it early in life having four wild younger brothers.

“It is if you’re watching yellow-bellied marmots.”

What? He had to be pulling my leg. Typical older brother behaviour, although Dallas had never been a big kidder. That was more Shane’s and Brett’s style. “Excuse me?”

Dallas’s lips curved into a half smile. “You know, rock chucks.” He slipped a hand into his pocket casually, drawing attention to the arsenal of weapons on his belt. “They’re the unofficial town mascot now.”

My brain glitched like a scratched CD, which I stubbornly clung to as superior to streaming platforms. “Is there an official mascot?”