Page 57 of Say I'm Yours
“Was that after you worked on her farm all day? Or after dinner?” Trent sneers and then looks at me. “Your house okay? I would hate to see you without a place to live. But then again, maybe you can move in with Cooper.”
Tears flood my eyes and start to fall. He has this all wrong. I’m not herewithCooper. I’m here because Cooper was kind enough to drive me. I’m here for Trent, and he’s treating me as if I’m a heartless bitch who wants to rub Cooper in his face.
“Stop it.” I put my hand on his arm and he tears it back. “Cooper and I had dinner, but I’m here for you because I wanted to make sure you were all right and your dad was okay. You would know that if you would just listen.” I wipe my face and try again. “We’re not . . .”
He puts his hand up. “I don’t want to fucking hear it. I’m dealin’ with enough right now. My father is lying in a hospital bed, dyin’ of cancer, and I don’t need to add this on top of it.”
Cooper scoffs and shakes his head. “I’m going to check on Presley and Wyatt. If you need me, Grace, you know where to find me.”
I nod and watch him walk away.
“You can go with him,” Trent says with hostility. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”
“If you’d—”
“Just go, Grace.”
I get that he’s hurting. I understand completely that he’s in pain and angry at the situation he’s dealing with, but if he’d stop lashing out at me, I could explain.
“No.” I shake my head, digging my heels in. “I’m not leavin’.”
“I don’t want you here.”
I hear the slight tremor in his voice. He may say he doesn’t want me here, but I think he’s scared. This family has been through a lot in the last two years. Losing his father is going to be a major blow.
When I step closer to him, my voice is low and comforting. “I think you do.”
Trent’s eyes go hard and his voice is ice. “I tell you I love you. I lay it all out, and you fucking ask me to leave and then spend the day with him. What do I get to do? I get to spend the entire day thinkin’ about you. I have to wonder if he’s touchin’ you, kissin’ you, or makin’ you smile, and then you come here with him. I don’t fucking care what you think you know, because you’re wrong. I don’t want you here. I don’t want to see you or him anywhere.”
Too damn bad. I am not leaving. I need to stand my ground. He isn’t pushing me away anymore, and I’m not running either. It’s time that we fight for each other rather than against each other.
I lean forward and push onto my tiptoes so we are chest to chest before I grab his face between my palms. When I open myself completely to him, two things can happen. Either he’ll hear what I say and see the truth in my words or he’ll push me away. Our lives’ course will be determined on how he steers the horse, he can throw us off or ride steady.
“I’m here because I love you, you thick-headed, unwilling-to-listen, lovable idiot! I’m here because I choose you. I’ve always chosen you because I can’t imagine my life without you. I’m here because I love you so much my insides hurt no matter how many times I tell you that I shouldn’t keep runnin’ back.” He tenses, and I watch the shift in his gaze. “So, if you want to keep arguin’ about this, I’m happy to, but you said you love me, and I’m standin’ before you askin’ you to let me do the same.”
Trent searches my eyes and his breathing stops as he touches my cheek. “What?”
“I said I love you.”
His thumb grazes my lip. “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “The other part.”
My breathing is shallow, and I know what he needs. “I choose you. I didn’t choose Cooper. There really never was a choice. It’s been you since I was sixteen.”
Not a second later, Trent’s mouth crushes against mine. His lips are soft, but the kiss is not as he holds my head to his and pours all his emotions into me. His fear is palpable as his fingers slide into my hair, holding me closer, breathing my air, and taking what I’m offering him. It’s as if I can feel him telling me I’m his reason for breathing.
He pulls back, and I run my fingers through his hair. We stand here together with his forehead against mine. My heart rate starts to slow as the seconds pass.
“I need to check on my family, but I just want to stay here,” he murmurs.
I lift my head, remembering why I’m here in the first place. “Is he okay?”
He shakes his head.
Trent takes my hand in his, and we start to walk toward the waiting room. He doesn’t say anything as we move through the hall. I can tell he’s on the edge of falling apart.
