Page 74 of Say I'm Yours
“You know my daddy proposed to my mama that night.”
“I do.”
My mouth goes dry. Oh my god. What if this is his plan? I don’t know that I’m ready to say yes. We just got back together, and it feels like we’ve gone from idle to full speed in the matter of a minute. I love Trent, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him, but I want to be sure this is all real.
“Trent—” I touch his hand.
“Grace, I’ve been with you for a long time. You’ve waited. You’ve been patient and understanding.”
“Please.” I try to stop him. I don’t want to say no, but I don’t think I’m ready to say yes. A few weeks ago, I was on a date with Cooper, we weren’t together, and my life wasn’t any less crazy. This is way too soon.
“Listen to me, sweetheart.” Trent takes the glass, shifts me off his lap, and then climbs to his knees in front of me. “I need to finish what I came here to say.”
“But . . .”
“Shhh.” His hand covers my mouth. “I know you’re not sure about us. I’ve given you pretty much every reason to doubt me. So,” he removes his hand, “I’m not going to propose, but I am going to tell you that I don’t plan to wait long. Losing you taught me something I won’t ever forget. I have every intention of tying you to me—legally.”
I let out a deep sigh of relief. “I want to believe all of this is the new you.”
“But you don’t, yet.”
“I’m gettin’ there.”
“You once said you wanted a love like your parents.”
My smile is soft as I lean back to look at him. “I remember.”
Trent sits back on his feet. “I can’t give you that, Gracie. I’m not your father and you’re not your mother, but we are who we are. I can give you me. I won’t be perfect. I’ll make mistakes, but I won’t make the same ones again. What your parents have together is theirs. I want to make something that’s ours. The story we tell our kids won’t be as sweet as what your dad told us, but it’ll still be beautiful.”
Kids.
The thought steals my breath and answers the question I never asked him.
I climb to my knees and press my lips against his. He’s had times in our years where he said the most beautiful things, but this will forever be my top spot. He’s right. I’ve been trying to have something like his parents or mine, instead of seeing what we share as being good enough.
Trent grips my shoulders, pulling be back before cupping my face. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Good. Now, come here.”
We both get comfortable again and a few minutes later, the fireworks begin. The bright colors paint the sky with light and warmth.
“I love the fireworks.” I remark as the lights flash. “They’re so beautiful.”
Trent holds me close and he lifts my head to him. “You’re what’s beautiful, Grace. You make the sky bright. This,” he looks back up, “this is nothing compared to you.”
“Keep sayin’ these sweet things, and I’m gonna keep you.”
He smiles and leans in for a kiss. “I’m plannin’ on it, sweetheart.”
Chapter 17
Trent
“Three weekshe’s been suffering!” Mama yells at the doctor. “And now we’re back in the hospital again?”
“Mrs. Hennington, I warned y’all this would be possible. His immune system is weak and the leukemia has spread. I’m sorry, but at this point, we need to do another blood transfusion. We have to treat the symptoms as they arise.”
