Page 49 of With You Forever

“I know.” Seth hesitates, then asks, “Do you not want to marry me?”

She stares, aghast, hating herself for the tortured look in his eyes. “Seth, no.” She shakes her head. “I still want you. I want everything with you. I’m just afraid. I’m so afraid we’ll never get it. ThatI’llnever get it.”

She inhales and like a switch is flipped, all her pent-up worry, her doubt, streams out like a hot lava flow. “It’s not fair to you. What if in a year it comes back? What if they have to cut off my breasts? What if I die?” Seth’s wince is anguished. “What if I can’t give you a family? I mean, I’m the selfish one taking that away from you. You didn’t sign up for any of this.”

Seth chuckles. A slow roll of a deep rumble that curls her stomach. “This is exactly what I signed up for. This. Our life. Together, Lacey.” He tugs her close. “It ain’t all gonna be easy, but damn if I’m doin’ it with anyone else.”

“Seth ...”

“Don’t try to talk me out of it, princess. You’re stuck with me.” Seth traces a finger over her cheekbone and lays his mouth beside her ear. “And I ain’t leavin’ you. You hear me? I will never leave you.” Gripping her shoulders, he pulls back to look at her, unshed tears in his eyes. “You are the love of my life, Lace, and I will never have another. You gotta know that.”

His words break her. Her face crumples, only Seth has her. She weeps in his arms, her tears soaking the front of his shirt. Catharsis. A release of everything she’s been holding in, pushing down.

A sob escapes Seth and his arms tighten around her waist. “I don’t think you understand how much I can’t live without you. I don’t think you realize how much nothing can happen to you.”

With that, he lifts her into his arms, and, still sitting, she wraps her legs around his waist. The back of his hand cradles her head protectively as she burrows her face in his neck. She inhales his Seth-scent and goes back in time, in her memory. To Los Angeles, to whiskey, to Smoky Mountains and secret kissing, and dive bar dance floors.

The two of them sit together in the crisp air, holding each other, clinging tight, shaking. Lacey nestles deeper into Seth’s body, resting her cheek on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry I’m not braver,” she murmurs.

“Lace, baby, you ain’t gotta be brave. You just gotta be here.” He pulls the blanket around her shoulders to keep her warm. “One day at a time, remember?”

“I remember.”

“’Sides, you ain’t supposed to save me from this. I’m supposed to save you.”

She sits up to look at him. His handsome face contorted in grief. She cups the side of his strong jaw. “Maybe we save each other.”

“You already did that. So many times, princess, you pulled me from the brink of all my bullshit. And now, I’ve got you.”

She smiles through her tears. “Why do you wrangle me?”

He kisses her. “Because you’re worth the wrangle.” Adjusting her in his arms, Seth pulls her down into his lap. “I ain’t sure what the future holds. But I do know one thing. It’s you and me.”

She stares at him, at this man she loves with her entire soul, her protector of the highest order, and her chest feels heavy. “I love you, Seth. Too much.” Fresh tears fill her eyes. “And I’m sorry for pushing you away.”

He chuckles. “Like I was goin’ anywhere anyway.”

They relax into each other, stretching out on the damp grass. Lacey’s hand tangles with Seth’s, fingers locking.

She smiles. “I could stay out here forever.”

“That’s the plan, princess.” He lifts a hand, points a finger. “See that sky? That’s ours. We’re gonna build our house, and we’re gonna sing whatever damn song we want.”

“Hmm. I like that.”

Tilting her face, she scours the stars, the milky night sky. Cradled against Seth’s broad chest, his arms wrapped around her, there are no more unanswered questions or hard doubts. There is this moment, right here, right now. Life is short. And all she can do is live. One step, one day, one breath, one heartbeat at a time.

Starting with Seth.

All she wants is him. Not a house or an expensive wedding, just Seth and her health.

Those two things are her most important focus.

“Seth,” she ventures, looking into his piercing blue eyes. “About the wedding ...”

He cuts her off with a shake of his head. “If you want to wait, let’s do it. I don’t want you worryin’ about a damn thing.” His voice is pained, choked. Like he hates the idea, is dying over it, but he’ll give it to her. It makes her love him even more.

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