Page 46 of Say I'm Yours
My father loves my mother more than any rational person cares for another. It’s a relationship my brothers and I always envied and, in our own ways, tried to find for ourselves. My mother and father can have a complete conversation without words, which probably came in handy when raising us.
“I’ve told her what I want.”
“Then win her back,” he retorts.
“It’s not that simple.”
He snorts. “The hell it isn’t. You can’t expect her to believe what you tell her. She needs to see that you’re changin’.”
Dad has always been pushing all of us to find a love like that. I’m surprised he hasn’t brought Grace up before now.
“I did show her, and she chose someone else.”
He nods. “I guess she wasn’t the one then.”
What the fuck does that mean? Of course, she’s the one. “Yeah, well, I guess I just didn’t know until it was too late.”
He casts his line and exhales. “A man always knows. It’s a matter of being smart enough to act on it.”
I don’t say anything to that. I’ve known for a long time that Grace is the one, but I was too stubborn to change. I liked our arrangement. It worked for me. We’d have dinner, go out dancing, have mind-blowing sex, and then go on our way. I didn’t have to answer to her and she didn’t need to tell me what she was doing.
“Why are you always so wise and vague at the same time?” I grumble. “It’s really annoying.”
Dad shrugs and turns to Wyatt. “How’s my daughter-in-law doin’?”
“I’m doing great, Pop. Work is good, I’m still debating going in with Cooper and becomin’ part owner.”
My hand clenches the rod as he says his name. Right now, he could be at her house. I have no idea what they’re talking about or if he’s convinced her that he’s the better choice. I’m stuck here, trying to keep myself from going back over there.
She can say that she didn’t feel the love between us this morning, but she’s lying. I know I’m not perfect, but I’m not playing around anymore. I didn’t want to go there last night, but because she needed me, I did. Never did I think we’d have sex, but I couldn’t resist her.
The way she moaned my name. The sounds she made and how she nestled against me while she slept. It was everything I could do to keep from ripping her clothes off in the middle of the night. Now, all I can think about is that she’s with Cooper.
“I didn’t ask about you, I asked about Angie,” he retorts.
Wyatt scoffs, and I choke back my laughter. “She’s doin’ all right. It’s different this pregnancy than the last.”
“And you both are talkin’?” My father looks at the hill, which is his subtle way of remembering the baby they lost last year.
“Faith is always somethin’ we talk about.”
“And when am I going to get another grandbaby from you, Zachary?”
Sometimes being the only one not married has its perks, like now. Though, I got my fair share of flak for not being married with kids. When I hit forty, he gave up completely and let it go.
Zach grumbles and casts his line. “Oh, look, a fish!”
“Here fishy, fishy, fishy!” Wyatt calls.
All of us turn to look at him as if he’s lost his fucking mind. “What the hell?” I ask.
“What? It’s my and Angie’s thing. You had to be there.”
“Are you drunk?” Zach questions.
He shakes his head. “Why don’t we drink when we do this?”
Dad clears his throat. “Because when you three drink someone gets a damn black eye and I end up listenin’ to your mama for two hours about corralling you idiots.”
