Page 4 of He Falls First

“So, just put me where you want me.”

Juniper gestures at the yellow-leafed maple tree behind me. “I was going to bring a backdrop, but all the trees in town decided to put on a show just in time for the festival. So, all you have to do is stand there and look pretty.”

I’ve heard that before. Last year, on Valentine’s Day, some of the single men in town were asked to do a kissing booth for charity. Another time, we were auctioned off on dates. I’m always on the list for these kinds of things.

I start to peel off my shirt, and Juniper busts out laughing.

“Oh, honey, wait…”

“Put your shirt on around my wife, pipsqueak.” The gravelly voice comes from Rex, Juniper’s husband. He’s a bit of a sour puss, but I’ve gotten to know him from all the times we’ve needed his tow truck at highway accidents. He’s quick to respond, helps out whenever we need a hand, and he gets the busted cars out of traffic fast. I like him.

He doesn’t like me right now, though.

“Yes, Mr. Mayor,” I say, tugging my shirt back on.

“Not the mayor,” he grumbles, circling his arm around his wife.

His golden retriever, Flash, trots up, tail wagging and tongue flapping.

Effectively, Rex is the mayor. He’s always helping people, he goes to all the town council meetings and has a lot to say when it’s important. He seems like a mayor to me.

I scratch Flash behind the ears and accept a doggy kiss in return. “Thanks, buddy. That’s the only kind of kiss I’ve had in ages,” I say.

“Well, maybe your luck will change today,” Juniper says with a glint in her eye.

I return her smile. “I was thinking the same thing. It feels like it’s gonna be a really good day.”

She excuses herself to make the rounds on the other booths, with Rex at her side. The two of them are so different, but they make sense together.

Someday, I hope I meet that person who makes everything make sense for me.

three

Briar

“Well? Are you going to stay and do the job, or are you going to leave?”

Is he serious?

Leave? Me? Leave an internship before it’s begun?

Oh, hell no.

I can’t believe I was even considering cutting my losses.

This old crank can’t get rid of me that easily.

I was bullied by people a lot bigger and tougher than this guy. I worked the French fry machine for a fast food manager with grabby hands when I was 16 years old. I knocked his ass down, reported him to corporate, and replaced him.

Despite no one at home caring about me, I got myself where I am.

If there’s one thing I can do, it’s handle my own shit.

So what if I don’t understand how large historic estates operate? I came here under the impression that I was to learn that very thing.

I’ve had curveballs thrown at me before, and I always come out on top.

I blink at him. “I’m excited to get started, Mr. Frye.” I shoot him my brightest overachiever smile.