Page 81 of Say You Want Me
“Wanna sit for a bit? I’ve been dreamin’ of these cupcakes for the last few days and would love to not have to eat alone.”
“Sure.” I smile and come around the counter.
“Presley tells me you haven’t decided if you’re headin’ back to Pennsylvania,” she says then sips her coffee.
“Presley has a big mouth.” I roll my eyes.
“Sorry, I guess I was just hopin’ that maybe you were going to stay.”
Grace is sweet, and I genuinely like her. She brought more food than anyone else over the last few weeks. She said when she’s emotional, she cooks. It was heartwarming to see a town reach out to us. Even though the loss was by far more of Wyatt’s and my own.
“You didn’t overstep. Things are . . .” I struggle to finish my thought.
“Wyatt isn’t handling things well, is he?” Grace takes a guess.
“No.”
She sighs and folds her hands. “I was afraid of that.”
“Why?”
Grace leans back in the chair and worries her lip. “We’ve all been close our whole lives. You don’t grow up in a town like this and not know everyone. Wyatt has always been the strongest of the Hennington boys. Zach and Trent have always relied on him in ways that many don’t see. Sure, Trent is supposed to be the law, and Zach was the star athlete with the girl of his dreams.” She waves her hand as if those two points don’t really mean much. “But Wyatt has been their rock. He stood back, watched them do what they do, and supported everyone. He’s the fixer. He’s the man who pushes them through all the messes they make. Now though, he can’t fix this. He can’t give you back what you lost, what he feels like he caused.”
“He’s not worried about fixing me.” I look away. “He’s too busy breaking me apart.”
Grace rests her arms on the table and takes my hand in hers. “I can see that. I don’t think he knows how to deal with that. You know what I mean?”
I do know what she’s saying. But I don’t know what to do about it. “Can we talk about something else? Please?”
“I’m sorry,” she says quickly.
“Nothing to apologize for, Grace. I need a break from my life. Tell me, how are you and Trent?”
“Trent.” Grace shakes her head and looks away. “I have spent my entire life waiting for the man to love me. It’s hard when you love someone like I love Trent. He’s hurt me so many times, but I can’t walk away from him. Even now.”
“What’s changed?”
“Cooper.”
I know that I have big issues in my own life, but for this minute . . . it feels good to talk about something else. I’m not worrying about all the shit rattling around in my own head, I can maybe help someone else.
“Do you like him that way?” I ask. The last thing I would want is Presley’s brother to get caught up in a love triangle.
Grace nods. “I really do. I never saw him that way. He was always my best friend’s brother.” She sighs. “Now though, I can’t stop thinkin’ about him. He keeps asking me out, but I can’t find a way to say yes.”
“Can I offer my advice?”
Her hand grips mine. “Please, I’ve been going crazy not havin’ anyone to talk to. I can’t talk to Presley about this, it’s her brother and then a Hennington. Emily, who you met once, is too busy bein’ a big country music singer . . . I could use a friend.”
I place my hand over hers. “If you think that Trent Hennington isn’t going to change his ways, then you follow your heart. Cooper is a good man. I don’t think he’d risk his friendship, family, and his heart if he wasn’t serious about you. A man fights for the woman he loves.”
And that right there is the problem I’m having. Wyatt isn’t fighting.
He’s letting me go.
He’s watching me drift away out to sea.
I’m losing him every day that passes, and it’s destroying me.
