Page 14 of Say I'm Yours
“I’m sorry I freaked out,” I say to Emily.
“I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. I was just sayin’ that sometimes our hearts lie to us about what’s really goin’ on. I think we want to see the good in everyone, and it can cloud our judgment.”
“I don’t know what changed inside him, but he became so angry at everything. The fun, sweet, sexy man I knew disappeared. The more I tried to push him to talk to me, the more he pushed me away. The more space I gave him, the more he took until it felt like there were oceans between us.”
I would break things off only to find him on my porch, begging me to give him another chance. I would give in. I know the real Trent Hennington. The guy who sits on the dirty ground while his girlfriend cries. The man who drives four and a half hours to identify your sister’s body and then creates a manhunt for the husband who beat her to death. He stands by your side when you need him. He’s tender, strong, sweet, broody, and so much more.
He was just never fully mine.
We’d have good runs where he would be the guy I love. We’d laugh, watch television, ride horses, and make love for hours. Then something would shift when we got too comfortable again. His entire attitude would eclipse the sun that was in his eyes and leave only darkness. I could almost watch the change happen.
No matter what I gave him, it wasn’t enough to pull him out.
I swipe the tears that fall as I remember the bad times. “I wish I could save him. I wish I was enough for him to want to be saved.”
Emily takes a long sip of her drink. “I think Trent is in a lot of pain. I don’t know why. I don’t even think his brothers know, but until that man comes to some kind of epiphany, he’s only going to hurt you, honey. Who knows, maybe you goin’ out with Cooper Townsend will be the thing that drives him to wake the hell up.”
Which brings me back to my emergency text that I needed Emily to come here for a girl’s night in. Angie and Presley are great, but they’re all family . . . to everyone. Presley is obviously going to be on her brother’s side, well, I’m not sure which brother now. Angie is going to side with Trent because that’s the side Wyatt will land on. I’m like the lone wolf here. I need a pack. I need Emily and her advice in my life more than ever.
“I should cancel that date. It isn’t fair,” I say, thinking about Cooper.
“Hell no you shouldn’t! Look, Cooper knows damn well how you feel about Trent. Don’t be fooled, Grace. There isn’t a living person in this town that doesn’t. If he wants to test the waters, I say give it a chance.”
“It’s just dumb! I am clearly still all messed up inside.”
Her voice rings of disbelief. “I think you’re makin’ up any excuse you can.”
“And what about when Trent finds out?” I push.
Emily’s grin spreads across her face. “Well, won’t that be too bad for him.”
He’s going to lose his mind. Full-on nuclear attack will ensue.
“I don’t know . . . I feel like it’s a slap in his face.”
Emily rolls her eyes. “We come from a small ass town. There aren’t many men floatin’ around Bell Buckle. He has to expect this, and if he doesn’t, that sucks for him. As for your other lame bullshit about hurting Cooper? He’s a grown ass man and fully capable of decidin’ for himself if he can handle it. A very fine grown man, I might add. I guess it’s really a matter of if you’re willin’ to take a chance.”
* * *
“Grace! Your phone is ringing!” Mama calls from the kitchen where my purse is sitting.
She dragged me shopping all over Tennessee for the day. Now, I’m carrying in all the bags and antiques she found. I don’t mind doing things like this with my parents. They’re both getting older and if my helping with shopping and driving makes her life a little easier, I’ll do it.
Plus, I know the more I’m around, the happier she is. My mother having to bury her baby was the hardest thing she ever did. Scarlett’s death broke my parents’ hearts. I want to help mend them a little. Scarlett was who wanted to own the store in town. I think it’s why my mother refuses to part with it.
“Grace!” she calls again.
“I’m bringing the bags in! Give me a second, Mama!”
“Trent was over by Macie’s when I was visiting with her yesterday,” she informs me as I set the last bag on the counter.
“Okay.” I’m not sure where this is going. She practically shoved me over to the Townsend’s house a few weeks ago. Now she wants to talk about the Henningtons?”
“I’m just sayin’ is all. Trent was there.”
“I’m not with Trent, so what he does is really none of my business.”
I should’ve known that her not mentioning this wasn’t going to last long. She removes a few things from the bags as she smiles. “I know, sugar. Cooper and his mama talked when we got back from Mexico. He said you two were going out.”
