“Well, that’s what you are now, isn’t it?”
I can see that she remembers. Her playful tone and smirk tells me all I need to know. There are some things that no matter how hard we try to forget—still live inside of our hearts.
“You’re going to test me?”
I watch her come to life before me. The first time I saw her she was sad, unable to really smile. Bit by bit, she’s becoming the girl I knew. It feels that way for me too. She’s made me feel things I didn’t realize I was missing from my life. Just being around her makes me feel whole again. It’s crazy how much this girl lives inside of me.
“I think everything in our life is a test. I’m not sure if we’ll pass, but I can’t pretend that I don’t feel things for you.”
“You two do realize we can hear you, right?” Wyatt laughs from the site. We must be closer than I thought.
Presley ducks her head into my chest. “Oh, God.”
“You can leave,” I reply.
“Nah!” he yells back.
I run my arms up and down her back. “Let’s go back before they act like idiots.”
“Too late,” she says.
“True.”
We head over and the guys, of course, say a few things because they’re incapable of being mature. Wyatt is the worst, but when he sees Presley is uncomfortable, he stops. I’ll never forget the day he told me he was in love with her. I wasn’t sure what the hell to do.
He’s my brother.
She’s my everything.
I had just lost her, and he came out to California. We were having a few beers, and he blurted it out. He told me how he would never do anything, but that he loved her, and I was a fucking moron.
He was right. I was stupid, but I’m not going to be that dumb ever again. Presley won’t be able to get rid of me so easily.
Presley
“I HAD A GOOD TIME.” I look at Zach, who’s standing on the bottom step.
I feel ridiculous, but I can’t stop grinning. Last night was everything. He was sweet and a complete gentleman. I didn’t think about the ridiculous amount of debt I’m trying to pay off or the fact that I’m thirty-five living at home with my parents. I was Presley. A woman who has been through hell, but is finding her legs again. I didn’t curl up and die along with Todd. There’s something to be said for that, and I deserve to be happy again.
“I’m glad I went.”
“Me too.” I smile.
“I’ll come by tomorrow to check on the boys’ horses.”
“Be sure to stop by the office.” I bite my bottom lip. I’m a damn schoolgirl all over again.
Zach climbs the steps slowly. “I will. You can bet on it.”
I take a step back, not because I don’t want to be close to him, but because of how much I do. The boys could be anywhere, and I want to keep this between Zach and me. If people realize we’re together, it’ll be the talk of the town. I’ve had enough of that to last me a lifetime.
He keeps advancing, and I retreat. “I’ll see you then.” I walk backward and keep going until I bump into the screen door. “Bye, Zach.”
The deep sound of his laugh fills my heart. “Bye, Presley.”
Once I’m on the other side of the screen, I wave again, and he winks. I close the door and press my back against it. This is going to be impossible. Feelings that were six feet under have come back to life. I remember how special he makes me feel. When you’re looked at like you’re the only person who matters—it’s exhilarating.
I take a few breaths in attempt to collect myself. Before I fully can, the boys are flying down the stairs. “Mom!”
“Hi, guys!” I say with a shaky voice. I glance back one last time, hoping to see him, but he’s gone. It scares me that I wish he weren’t.
“How was camping?”
“Did you see a bear?”
“Were there coyotes trying to eat you?” They rattle off their questions, and I shake my head.
“I missed you guys.”
“We had too much fun to miss you,” Cayden says with all the honesty in the world. Logan laughs.
“Thanks so much.” I grin.
Logan shrugs. “Uncle Cooper is fun, Mom.”
“He used to pull my hair and hide my dolls.” I try to sway them.
Cayden rolls his eyes. “So?”
“So, he’s a butt.”
“Whatever,” Logan dismisses me. “Is Zach coming over today to help train Flash and Superman?”
Of course they would ask this.
“No, Zach just went home.”
“Aww,” they whine.
“You can ask Papa to help you train Flash and Superman,” I suggest.
I still can’t get over the names they picked for their horses. I shouldn’t be shocked, considering last month Cooper found his old comics and let the boys read them. Since then, it’s all we hear about. The argument over whose horse is going to be faster is enough to make my ears bleed.
“Hi, sugar.” Mama saves the day.
“Hi, Mama.”
“Did you have a good ride?” she asks and hands each of the boys a cookie from her secret stash, which is the worst-kept secret ever.
“Thanks!” they both say in unison.