Page 65 of Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5)

PROLOGUE

FALLON

AGE FOURTEEN

“If you just finished the last of the Lucky Charms, I am going to hack into your Instagram and post that picture of you streaking downtown the night before graduation.”

I didn’t look up at the sound of my brother Cope’s threat.

My pencil kept right on scratching across the paper, the sound inaudible above the din in the kitchen.

But growing up the way I had, I was used to noise and chaos.

The good kind. The kind that came from my mom taking in foster child after foster child—anyone who needed her—even after my dad had passed away. It was just the kind of woman she was.

Sometimes, kids came for only a night or two. Other times, they stayed forever. But there were always a lot of us, which meant noise and chaos.

Shep shot Cope a grin, his amber eyes twinkling with mischief. “Good thing I’ve got a great ass. Nothing to worry about there.”

“Your ass is so pale, it gives mooning a whole new meaning,” Cope fired back.

“Watch your language. Both of you,” Mom warned, eying the newest member of our crew.

Arden was twelve and had only said about two words since coming to live with us a few months ago. But the way she watched everyone with her gray-violet eyes said she picked up on more than someone might expect.

My grandma, Lolli, made a pssh noise as she walked into the kitchen wearing a bedazzled workout outfit, tie-dyed in every color of the rainbow. “Foul language is honest.”

Mom pinned Lolli with a hard stare. “Foul language is not welcome in this house.”

“Just like my naked yoga isn’t?” Lolli huffed.

Cope’s face scrunched as he shook his head, making his light-brown hair flutter in a way I was sure the high school girls would sigh over. “Please do not remind me. I’m scarred for life.”

Lolli stuck out her tongue at him. “It’s called a sun salutation, and it’s your fault for coming over to my guesthouse unannounced.”

Shep chuckled as he lowered himself to the stool next to me. “Bet he won’t do that again.”

“I’m staying at least two hundred yards away at all times,” Cope said with a shiver.

Rhodes ambled into the kitchen, her deep-brown hair a little wild. “Don’t let them dull your sparkle, Lolli.”

“Never, my babycakes,” Lolli called back.

Shep set his bowl of cereal on the island next to me, making his milk slosh over the side. He quickly moved to mop it up as I lifted my journal out of its path. “Sorry, Fal.”

“When do you go back to college again?” I asked, my lips twitching.

He made a face. “This morning. And you’re gonna miss me like crazy.”

“Not when you take the last of the Lucky Charms,” Cope called from the opposite side of the kitchen .

“You snooze, you lose,” Shep shot back.

Mom looked up from the stove, giving them each a look that said she was exasperated. “You both need protein, not to mainline sugar.”

Rhodes sent my mom a smile. “I’ll have eggs, Nora.”

My mom’s expression turned gentle. “Have I told you that you’re my favorite today?”

“Kiss-ass,” Cope called as he tried to get the last shreds of Lucky Charms into his bowl.

“Copeland,” Mom chastised.

“Sorry, Mom.” He grinned at Rhodes. “Sorry, Rho Rho.”

My best friend was newer to our bunch. She’d come to live with us a year ago after her family was killed in a fire. And even with as much time as she’d spent here growing up, she was still finding her footing in the sibling pack.

“That’s pretty good,” Shep said, leaning over to look at what I was drawing.

I quickly closed my journal, hiding my sketch of a house. “Not as good as yours, future contractor extraordinaire.”

He sent me a lopsided grin. “Let’s hope.”

“Only if he’s not distracted by all the girls chasing after him on campus,” a new voice called. Our eldest brother, Trace, ambled into the kitchen, his new deputy uniform looking perfectly ironed.

“I thought you moved out,” Shep shot back.

“I’m out of coffee,” Trace muttered.

“Move out of his way,” Cope ordered. “Trace without coffee is a dangerous beast.”

Trace leveled him with a stare. “I don’t get my coffee, and I’m much more likely to write you a speeding ticket when you’re doing thirty-five in a twenty-five.”

Mom straightened, leveling a glare at my biological older brother. “Copeland Colson. I am entrusting you with precious cargo. Tell me you are not speeding.”

There was a slight edge to her tone, and I knew why. When I was ten, a car accident left Cope and me in the hospital, and our father and brother, Jacob, dead .

Trace winced and quickly wrapped an arm around Mom. “I’m just giving him a hard time. He’s only doing like two miles over the speed limit.”

It was a lie. Cope was a speed demon on skates and behind the wheel. Always looking for that next thrill. Maybe because we’d come so close to losing it all.

I stood, putting together my things and shoving them into the backpack at my feet.

Once that was done, I moved around the kitchen, gathering supplies for lunch.

I quickly glanced around to see if anyone was watching before making two turkey sandwiches.

But I got caught up making sure they were perfect and didn’t notice my mom moving in beside me.

She brushed some hair back from my face in that easy way of hers. “Did you get enough for breakfast? You’ve been bringing a lot for lunch lately.”

My muscles stiffened; I couldn’t help it. A mixture of anxiety and guilt washed through me at hiding my mission from her. But if I shared, she’d get involved. I loved her for it, but I also feared it might make things worse.

“Sometimes, I want a snack on my free period,” I hedged. It wasn’t a lie. I did occasionally want something to eat during my free periods. It just usually came in the form of candy—strawberry Sour Patch Kids, if I had my way.

Cope sent me a look that told me he was about to be a shit-stirrer. “Eating for two, Fal?”

My jaw dropped, and Mom whirled on him. “That is not something to joke about.”

“Oh, please,” Cope muttered. “Fal’s never even kissed a boy. I think you’re safe.”

My cheeks heated because he was right. Cope’s words stung, but he was right.

Everyone else in my family seemed to find relationships easily—or at least offers for them.

Trace had been dating the same girl since he started college.

Shep had endless female interest. Girls waited by Cope’s locker every day.

Even Rhodes had plenty of boys paying her attention.

And I was sure even Arden would have her share of interest if she ever ventured off our property.

But it was never easy for me. I was a little awkward. I didn’t care about the same stuff most kids in my class did. It just…didn’t seem important. And it didn’t help that I was shy around people I didn’t know well. More often than not, I faded into the background.

Grabbing the sandwiches, I stuffed them into my backpack and bolted out the front door. My feet hit the boards of the front steps, and I felt the sting of tears in the corners of my eyes. It was so stupid.

“Fal, wait,” Cope called from behind me.

I didn’t stop—not that I had anywhere to go.

Colson Ranch was miles from town, and my only escape would’ve been into the pastures with the horses or cattle.

I slowed at the fence line, staring out at the horizon.

The Monarch Mountains were stunning in the morning light, and their staggering beauty and power were reminders of just how big the world was beyond our fences.

Cope moved in next to me, not saying anything for a moment. “I’m a dick.”

I didn’t respond.

“A dick of epic proportions. And I’ll give you my Lucky Charms for the next two weeks as restitution.”

My mouth curved slightly at that. “The ultimate penance.”

“No kidding,” he muttered. He knocked his shoulder into mine. “I’m sorry. Any boy would be lucky to have you at his side. But I’d also kick his ass if he made a move on you.”

I made a face at Cope. “And how many girls have you kissed?” I challenged.

“I’m seventeen. It’s different.”

“Whatever,” I muttered.

Cope looped an arm around me. “Forgiven?”

I glanced up at him. “I don’t know. You going to get me a milkshake after school?”

“Lucky Charms and a milkshake?”

“You were a dick of epic proportions.”

Cope burst out laughing but tugged me back toward the line of family vehicles.

Trace watched us approach, the edges of his expression hardening.

He didn’t like anyone around him feeling less than, especially those he loved.

It likely came from the events of his life before he came to stay with us.

But he’d taken that hardship and turned it into something good.

“Want me to put him on a most-wanted list?” Trace asked, Shep and Rhodes standing next to him.

“I’ll settle for Lucky Charms and a milkshake payment,” I called back.

Cope pulled me tighter against him and gave me a noogie. “She drives a hard bargain.”

“Cope!” I squealed.

“Not the hair,” Rhodes yelled. “That’s adding insult to injury.”

I struggled to get free. “I’m going to put glitter in your hair gel.”

Cope laughed. “I don’t use hair gel.”

“Your body lotion, then.”

“Turn him into a fairy nymph,” Rho encouraged.

Cope released me. “Brutal.”

I tried to right my hair. “And don’t you forget it.”

The second bell rang, and more students flooded the halls.

Kids stopped to offload books in their lockers and grab lunch money or food they’d brought from home.

Nearly everyone but me. I kept my backpack on and dodged kids darting this way and that while trying to avoid any teachers who might question why I wasn’t headed for the cafeteria.

Who was I kidding? None of them would stop me. They’d assume I was working on a school project or logging some extra hours of homework. They wouldn’t be completely wrong. But they wouldn’t be totally right either.

“Fal!”