Say You'll Stay (28 page)

The tree comes into my view and I hear Zach’s voice behind me.

“Better watch, darlin’. I’m coming.”

“Shit.”

I lean forward and slap Shortstop’s back, hoping he’ll fly faster.

I take the turn and Zach is right on my heels. “I’m gonna get ya,” he taunts.

The end is in sight. I want to win, but he’ll never let me.

We come to the trail that widens so we’re side by side. We both surge forward and the boys yell and jump up and down.

No matter who wins the actual race. I think I’ve won much more.

According to Logan, Zach won. Cayden, of course, doesn’t dispute, just so I lose for once. Little shits.

Zach does his own victory dance and the boys join in. I laugh, watching the three of them behave like dorks. After they’re done with the taunting and celebrating, we all go on a ride. The boys handle the horses with ease. He’s done such a great job with them. They sit tall and maintain control the entire time.

“Can you guys race again?” Logan asks as we put the horses in their stalls.

“I think Zach has to work,” I explain.

“He’s a lot of fun, Mom.”

I smile. “Yeah, he is. I’ve known him a long time.”

He leans back against the wall. “Wyatt told me. He said you and Zach were boyfriend and girlfriend for a long time.”

Oh, Jesus. Well, I guess it was going to come out sooner or later. “Yeah.” I smile. “We were for a long time. Then I met your dad.”

Logan nods as if he understands. I sit and wait for his next question because I see the wheels turning. His mind goes non stop and I can never be too prepared. Cayden and Zach are still in the corral, and I want to give him the answers he’s searching for. Logan is a tender heart. He’s missing his dad, and I’ve probably done a shitty job of helping him through that.

“Do you think Dad would like Zach?” Logan asks without meeting my eyes.

Hell no, he wouldn’t. “I think if your dad knew Zach now, he would.”

That’s about as close to the truth as I can get. Todd hated Zach. But Todd had a very skewed version of who he was. All Todd saw was a man who left me in the worst way. I was broken, and Todd cared for me.

“Cool.” Logan returns to quiet reflection.

“Do you like him?” I ask.

“I think he’s really cool. I think he likes you, Mom.”

I’m thrown off by that statement. I’m shocked that one of them picked up on it. “You do?”

He shrugs.

I don’t want to ask this, but I don’t know I’ll ever get another chance. “I think Zach likes you and Cay a lot.”

“Do you like him?” he questions me with tears in his eyes.

“I will always love your dad. He gave me you and Cayden. No one else will ever take that away, okay?”

My heart aches as I look in his eyes. I see the pain that he hides well. My babies have been so deeply affected by Todd’s absence. They don’t deserve to hurt anymore.

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you more,” I say as I fold my arms around him.

Logan’s shoulders shake a little as he tilts his head to look at me. “I like Zach, and if you like him, then that’s okay.”

“You’re a good kid, you know that?”

My son’s eyes close as he squeezes me tighter.

Cayden and Zach walk into the barn, and Logan extracts himself.

“I think there’s something in the kitchen,” Cayden says conspiratorially.

“We’ll see you guys later!” Logan calls out as they rush off.

I finish cleaning up the barn a little. Floating around feeling slightly withdrawn. I wonder if it’s too fast that I’m even thinking about really moving forward with Zach. What would Todd think? Would he understand? Do I care what he would think? I don’t know. I think he would want me to be happy. I know I would want that for him, but I also remember how he felt toward the mere mention of Zach.

How he would go to any length to avoid hearing his name.

I can’t imagine that he would be happy about Zach being around his children.

Then again, had he chosen not to commit suicide, he would never have needed to worry about that.

“Hey.” Zach’s hand rests on my shoulder. “What’s going on in there?”

“Do you think we’re moving too fast?” I blurt out.

He stops moving and takes my hand. “What makes you think that?”

“Logan notices something between us, and I keep thinking that maybe this is too soon.”

“Do you feel like it is?”

“Isn’t that what I said?”

Zach’s thumb grazes the back of my hand. “No, you said you keep thinking. What do you
feel
?”

I stand there, trying to get a grip on what I am feeling. I’m happy, able to breathe, and I want to be with him each night. The best part of my days are my nights with Zach. I long for him the minute we walk away from each other. And until Logan even said anything, I didn’t think we were moving fast at all.

“Confused,” I finally say.

“We’re not a normal couple, Pres. We’ve known each other forever, and honestly, this is slow. I’ve been in love with you my whole life. I know you better than you know yourself. Don’t you get it, baby? We’re made for each other.” Zach releases my hand and cups my face. “I know every part of you, love every part of you, and there’s no rush on my part, but I don’t think we’re doing anything too fast. I think we’re just finding our way back to where we always were meant to be.”

I close my eyes, press my lips to his, and let his words sink in.

It feels the same way to me. I wish that we didn’t have to go through the hell we’ve endured to find our place, though, and I pray both boys will find a way to accept this.

Zachary

I
WANT TO MAKE TONIGHT
perfect. She needs to get out of her own head and allow us to be us. But Presley is an over thinker. Always has been.

“You sure about this?” Wyatt asks as he helps load my truck.

“No, but I’m tired of sleeping on a rock.”

He laughs. “I doubt that’s what your reason is, but I’ll buy it for now. She’s going to see through your bullshit though. She always does.”

I’ve got tonight planned down to every detail. Presley will meet me like she always does, only this time it won’t follow the way it has for the last three weeks. She refuses to let me take her out, so I’ll force a date.

“Just load the truck.” I remind him of his job. “I didn’t ask for all your commentary.”

Wyatt came over to grab a few things from our parents. Somehow, that turned into an hour of him, once again, saying how I’m fucking up things on the ranch. Bastard didn’t want to help when my parents needed him, but now he’s full of opinions. When I brought Felicia on to help me run things, he quit that day and went to work for the Townsends. Instead of him growing up and being an adult, he left me high and dry.

Dad had a stroke and could no longer work, so I did what was needed. My parents busted their asses for me, it was the least I could do. Thanks to my dad, I was able to attend any baseball camp I wanted, travel, take extra lessons. All because it was my dream.

“There’s extra blankets because she gets cold.” Wyatt tosses another bag in the back.

“I know.”

“I don’t know what you know, Zach. I hope you’re ready for whatever it is you’re doing. Presley may think she’s ready, but you’ve got blinders on.”

Here we fucking go again.

“You’re not her brother. You’re mine. Start acting like it.” I shove his hat in his chest. “I love her. I would never hurt her. And no matter what you think, this isn’t some fucking fling. This is me takin’ care of her.”

He can think what he wants. The truth is this is for her. This is about her. Not me or the fact that I have to ice my nuts every night. She doesn’t sleep unless I’m holding her. There’s no way in hell she’s comfortable on that damn rock, so I’m going to treat her right. I could kick my own ass for not thinking of this before.

“Whatever you say, Zachary. You always know best when it comes to her.”

“What’s your problem?”

He huffs. “I’m sitting here watching you two sneak around. How the hell is that okay with you? If she’s not ready to even talk about you both, how are you even anything?”

“I’m not sneaking around. We’re not kids anymore. She’s got kids she needs to protect. There’s a lot more to this than what you think you know.”

Wyatt needs to take his opinions somewhere else. I don’t know when he became the expert on relationships. He’s never had a serious girlfriend.

Wyatt crosses his arms. “I’d bet my ass that there’s more you don’t see. But hey, I’m just a country boy, right?”

Wyatt walks back in the house, and I let it go. Sometimes he grumbles regarding Presley. They have a very unique friendship, and I respect it. At the same time, I fucking hate it. I hate that he gets her on such a deep level.

I hop in the truck and head to our meeting spot. Only this time, our night is going to go down much differently.

Me: Head out early.

Presley: I just got the boys to bed.

Me: Perfect.

Presley: I didn’t say yes.

Me: You didn’t say no. I’ve got a surprise.

I hope that gets her attention. She’s a stubborn Southern woman who likes to press my buttons. If I don’t keep her on her toes, she’s likely to keep going in circles.

Presley: Oh? What kind?

Got her.

Me: The kind that you need to come see. Your parents know. Just come to our spot.

I spoke with her mama this morning when I got the idea. She smiled, patted my leg, and told me I’m back on her good side. That’s one Townsend down. Her daddy is going to be a whole different ball game.

Presley: What are you up to, Zachary Hennington?

I love when she calls me by my full name. She only does it when she’s mad or feeling feisty.

Me: Darlin’, get your fine ass down to our spot. We got us a hot date.

And hopefully one that puts a big smile on that gorgeous face. I’m going to show her how special she is and how she’s always been my choice.

Presley

I
WALK DOWN THE STAIRS
after getting the kids to bed and Daddy is sitting in his chair. “Goin’ somewhere, sugar?” he asks not looking away from the television.

“Hi, Daddy,” I say as if I’m fifteen again.

He gives a short laugh. “Right. Don’t think I don’t know you’re out every night with that boy.”

“I’m pretty sure he’s not a boy anymore, and I’m well past the age of curfews.” I kiss his cheek and he humphs again.

“We’ll see you in the morning.”

I smile and squeeze his shoulder. “Love you, Daddy.”

He looks over. “I love you, Presley.”

There are days I kick myself over pushing my family so far away. Today is one of them. My father and mother have been the solid ground throughout these months. They’ve not asked for anything from me but have given everything of themselves.

I head out the back door and snuggle into the blanket I keep out on the deck. It’s chilly out, and I’m barely wearing much. When I got his text, I felt like I needed to put a little effort in. I’m wearing a short, white, eyelet dress with a brown belt and a light jean jacket, I curled my hair this morning so it cascades in soft flowing waves. I threw on my cowboy boots, since trudging through the field to get to the creek isn’t usually a good idea in any other shoes.

Not that I usually go looking like crap, but at the same time, I never dress up.

I get to our meeting spot and find Zach leaning against his truck. “Hello, beautiful.” He walks forward, tugging me into his arms.

“Hi yourself.” My smile is instant. I try to look over his shoulder, but he turns me so I can’t see.

“You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”

“Me?” I ask with confusion.

“That dress.”

I grin. “I might have had a plan to torture you.”

“Well.” His lips press to mine. “I think.” Another kiss. “You’re doing.” And another. “A good job.” This time when our lips touch, I hold him there. Zach’s hands find their way to my hair, and he fists it loosely. I love the way he kisses me. Such power and strength, but never brutal. It’s a heady feeling when someone makes you feel safe and strong at the same time.

Our tongues dance as I get lost in Zachary’s touch. I can’t seem to stop myself. Being around him makes me crazy. It’s as if the time we spent apart only amplified things. When he touches me, it takes everything I have not to throw him down and feel every inch of him.