Say You'll Stay (39 page)
Authors: Corinne Michaels
Presley
Eighteen Months Later
“A
RE YOU READY YET?” GRACE
calls from downstairs. I’ve never seen the town so freaking excited over a parade. I honestly don’t even know what this one is for.
“I would be if you weren’t making me dig through boxes!” I yell back down.
Zach and I started construction on the house we’re building by the pond six months ago. The boys fell in love with the land and immediately asked when we were moving there. Thankfully we only have two more weeks of this. I can’t wait to be out of my parents’ house. They’ve been fantastic, and since living here, I’ve paid off a good chunk of my debt and gotten to a manageable place. Since I don’t have to pay rent or really any expenses, it’s been a little easier to make extra payments.
Angie is back in town visiting, she was excited to come see the house since the boys are constantly sending her videos and pictures.
“Hurry up!” Angie yells.
I roll my eyes and fix my dress. I got suckered into riding on Grace’s float. Her father is the fire chief, and he demands they have a float since the sheriff does. As if Trent and Grace need any more tension these days.
I head down the stairs, searching for the box where my boots are. “You look cute!” Grace smiles.
“It’s all I could find.” I laugh. I grabbed a dress since no matching was required.
“Well, it works.” Angie shrugs.
“Where are the boys?” I look around.
If they got dirty outside, I’m going to lose it. I told them to stay clean because they’re riding on the float with Trent. He’s decided they’re his deputies.
“They went with your parents,” Grace explains.
“Yeah, and we need to go.”
As we approach the center of town, I already see people lining the streets. I love the way the town shuts down for these events. It reminds me this isn’t just a community—it’s a family.
Angie groans each time someone stops us to say hello, which means she’s been groaning nonstop. Finally, we make it to the staging area for the floats.
“This town needs a Xanax.”
I giggle. “You need one.”
“Hi, Angel,” Wyatt wraps his arm around her from behind.
She peels him off before turning and pointing her finger in his face. “So help me God. I don’t know what is wrong with you, but we are not—ever—going there again.”
“Again?” I nearly shout. “When did you the first time?”
“Irrelevant,” she says and turns back to him. “Run along.”
I stand there with a smirk on my face. Angie turns and gives me a challenging look.
“Presley!” Grace yells from the float area. “We have to go.”
“Yes, Presley.” Angie raises her brows. “You have somewhere to be. I wouldn’t want to keep you.”
I point my finger at her. “We’re so talking about this.”
“Y’all are killing me,” Grace grumbles as she pulls me to the float.
Once Grace fusses for a few minutes and gets us all situated, I glance at the boys. They’re on Trent’s float, standing with their chests puffed out and hands in fists on their hips. I don’t know if they think they’re superheroes or if they’re imitating Trent.
“Hi, boys!” I wave.
They both give me a salute. “Officer Benson and Officer Benson at your service.”
I bust out laughing. They’re so cute. They’ve both adjusted really well to living here. Some days are harder than others. I field a lot of questions about their father, but the family support they receive has made the transition easier than I could’ve imagined.
“Where’s Zach?” I ask them.
They both shrug. “I think he was talking to Coach Keeland,” Logan says.
It’s a very real possibility. Logan mentioned to Zach that he wanted to play baseball, which prompted Zach to leap from the dinner table, grab his glove, and practically haul Logan outside to throw the ball. Turns out that Logan is actually really good. He made the school team and Zach has become his cheerleader. I’m surprised he doesn’t paint his face for games. It’s hysterical to watch.
Cayden and I have been riding a lot. He finds a lot of comfort around the horses. It’s great being able to bond over that.
“Grace?” I interrupt her scowling at Trent who is talking to some girl. I swear that boy has his head up his ass.
She looks over with sad eyes. “Why did you have to get the good brother?”
“I called dibs early.”
“You suck,” she quips.
Mrs. Rooney comes around the corner. “It’s time to start! Make sure you keep your timing.” Yes, we wouldn’t want to mess up the order. “That means you, Trent Hennington. Don’t make me get your mama over here.”
I love that he may be the sheriff, but we all know who is in charge in this town.
“What is this parade for again?” For the life of me I can’t remember why we’re celebrating.
She laughs. “This is the parade to celebrate Bell Buckle’s founding father’s birthday and you and Zachary movin’ in together.”
“What?” I deadpan. “Are you serious?” I look at Grace.
She shrugs. “You know how your mama and her friends are. They’d do anything to throw a parade. Don’t tell me you’re that surprised. We had a damn parade because Mayor Peckham had his appendix removed.”
I can’t believe this. We’re having a parade because I’m going to live with Zach? I’m going to kill my mama and her friends.
“Let’s pretend this has nothing to do with me,” I tell Grace.
“Whatever you want, sweetheart.”
Grace checks her makeup while I look around.
“Presley, honey.” Mrs. Rooney grabs my attention. “Be sure you pull that dress down a little more. The whole town doesn’t need to see
those
cheeks, baby girl. You might be livin’ with him, but you don’t want to give the milk away for free, if you know what I mean.”
“Oh, dear Lord,” I grumble. I would love to tell her I sold the cow when I was seventeen, but I choose not to. “It’s not that short.”
She doesn’t respond, but sure enough, I’m tugging it down.
The parade starts. Grace takes her spot at the front of the float, and I go to the back. Grace waves like the beauty queen she once was, though I don’t think this is what she envisioned as the former Miss Bell Buckle—riding on a crepe paper float complete with a large plastic heart behind us. But she seems happy.
We ride for a few minutes when suddenly the parade stops.
“What the heck?” I say to Grace.
I look over to see what is going on and see Zach standing in the middle of the road. “Zach?” I move toward the edge.
He hops on the float with a huge smile. “Hi, darlin’.”
“Hi.” I give him a look that says I think he’s lost his mind. “What are you doing?”
“I needed to tell you something.”
“Right now?” I ask.
“Yup.”
I look around, waiting for Mrs. Rooney to come beat him with a paddle or something, but they all stand there with smiles. The boys get on the float and my heart begins to race. I glance back where my family stands, all holding hands.
“You see,” he says nonchalantly, “the boys and I were talkin’ the other day. We all think it’s time we’re a family.”
Tears fill my eyes. “You do?”
“Yup!” the twins say in unison.
Zach drops to his knee. “I love you, Presley. I love Cayden and Logan. I love every part of your life and want to share it with you.” He takes my hand. “I fell in love with you when I was fifteen years old. I swore, one day, I would marry you. I came pretty damn close once.” He winks, and I attempt to refrain from crying. “I never thought you’d find your way back to me, but here we are. I promise to love you with every piece of me. I will never betray you. I will never leave you willingly. I’ll stand by your side and be all that you need.” Tears now fall from my eyes without any chance of stopping. “I want to have a home for all four of us. Cayden and Logan have given me permission to ask you . . . Presley Benson, will you be my wife?”
I look at my boys, who stand behind him with huge grins. The fact that he asked them makes my heart swell. Tears of joy fall from my eyes as I look at the man I love with my whole heart. Second chances don’t come along every day, but I’m eternally grateful for ours. “Of course I will, Cowboy.” Zach places the diamond ring I wore when we were younger on my finger. I can’t believe he kept it.
He stands, takes me in his arms, and kisses me while cheers erupt around us. Our lips part. “Looks like we finally hit a home run,” he says huskily.
I smile. “I’d say this was a grand slam.”
THE END
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for all of your love and support! If you'd like to keep up with what I have going on, be sure to sign up for my newsletters. As a subscriber, you'll receive access to exclusives, lost love letters, giveaways, and lots more!
Sign up Here
THE SALVATION SERIES
The Belonging Duet
The Consolation Duet
Indefinite
RETURN TO ME SERIES
Say You’ll Stay
Say You Want Me (Wyatt & Angie)
Coming Soon
Say You’re Mine (Trent & Grace)
Coming Soon
Hyped—Sexy Contemporary Standalone (Coming Soon)
T
O MY HUSBAND AND CHILDREN.
You sacrifice so much for me to continue to live out my dream. Days and nights of me being absent even when I’m here. I’m working on it. I promise. I love you more than my own life.
My beta readers, Michelle, Jenn, Holly, Katie, Melissa, and Sunny, I love you guys. Thank you for reading the dozens of drafts and changes I send you. I can’t tell you what your love and encouragement mean to me. You’re the reason that I keep going—I swear.
My readers. There’s no way I can thank you enough. It still blows me away that you read my words. You guys have become a part of my heart and soul.
Bloggers: I don’t think you guys understand what you do for the book world. It’s not a job you get paid for. It’s something you love and you do because of that. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you to Lisa my editor for your support and guidance through my projects. Sarah Hansen, from Okay Creations, for making my covers perfect. Ashley Williams for proofreading so many times until you probably see spots! Christine, from Perfectly Publishable, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the work you put into making these books beautiful. Your support is invaluable. I truly love your beautiful heart.
My agent, Amy Tannenbaum . . . thank you for your guidance and support through this book. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. Thank you for never getting frustrated with my unending questions.
Squad, BBFT, FYW, & Holiday Reads Girls—Thank you for your friendship, love, and the way you push me to step outside of the box. I love you guys!
Christy Peckham, my right hand, my friend, my tormentor- Ha! No, you keep me on track and never waver. I’m so blessed to have you in my corner.
Melissa Erickson, you’re amazing. I love your face.