Page 21 of Say You Won't Let Go
Emily is the girl I will never catch, the girl who shouldn’t have to be contained in a goin’-nowhere town.
Sure, I’ll get what I can here and there, but in the end, she’ll see I’m a goin’-nowhere farmer while she’s reaching for the stars.
Fuck, I’m a fool.
“Hey?” Emily touches my cheek. “You okay?”
I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the shit I don’t want to think about. I can berate myself later, but right now, I want to be with her. I don’t know how many moments we’ll have together, so I’m damn sure going to make each one count.
“Just thinkin’ about other ways to cause you trouble.”
“Yeah?” She gives me a sultry smile.
I see the mischief dance in her blue eyes. I roll her onto her back, and as soon as I feel her heat, I want her again. When she grabs my ass, pulling me against her, I don’t deny her.
“Oh, yeah, darlin’, a whole lot of other ways.”
* * * *
“Don’t go back to Dallas,” Emily whines from the bed.
I stand at the end in my jeans and look for my shirt. “I wish I could stay.”
“But I don’t know when we’ll see each other again.”
I climb back on the bed, crawling toward her. I kiss her gently, and she grips my neck, keeping me there. It isn’t as if she has to try hard. I would stay for another night if I could. Hell, if she wanted me longer…
No, I won’t go down that road now.
Today is for goodbye. I need to actually see the presentation that I flew to Texas for. If I don’t get a move on, I’ll miss it.
When I pull back, her eyes fill with emotion. At least this sucks for her as well. “Don’t be sad, darlin’.”
She tucks the sheet under her arms and looks away. “But I am sad, Coop. I don’t want this to end.”
“Who said it has to end?” I ask her as I pull her against my chest.
I hate seeing her like this, and the last thing I want is to leave today knowing she’s sad. Not that I’m happy at the idea of driving away, but last night solidified how I feel and verified that there’s no way this is the end.
Emily Young will be mine. I’m going to marry this girl come hell or high water.
She nestles her face against my neck. “I like this. I like bein’ in your arms. I like it a lot more than I thought I would. A lot more than just spending a few nights together would mean with anyone else.”
I push her back so I can look in her eyes. “We may have spent a few days together like this, but we’ve spent a lifetime building more. You’re not just some random hookup, Emily. You and I have history and we’re not kids.”
“I know, and this is a long time coming.”
That makes me feel marginally better. There is still so much I want to say to her, but the last thing I want to do is fall hard for a girl who will never be mine.
Been there, done that, and I don’t want another fucking postcard.
“And hopefully a lot longer to come,” I say with a twinge of hope.
“How did you make me like you so easily?”
I try not to laugh, but she looks so cute. “I’m just irresistible.”
“Ehh.” She shrugs.
