“What do you mean?”
“He could’ve done so many other things than that. I struggle a lot with reconciling it. It never had to be this way.”
I close my eyes and focus on what I want to say. “No, it didn’t. We would’ve been able to work through this, but I guess it was too hard for him. I understand pride. I really do.” It is what kept me so isolated when I first returned here. I didn’t want anyone to know. I hated that I had to come back here to live with my parents. I still struggle with it. “But I was his wife. I was supposed to be his partner . . . he decided on his own that he couldn’t handle it.”
“Yeah,” she agrees. “And he fucked everyone’s life up.”
“Maybe,” I say with a great deal of care. “Maybe he thought this was saving us.”
Angie’s eyes fill with tears. “I’ve been alone too, Pres.”
“I know.”
“No.” She shakes her head and sits up. “I don’t think you do. I talked to him almost every day. I talked to you and those boys. You were my family. He took that from me too. But most of all, he left me with so many questions. And then you didn’t want to talk me.” Her lip trembles. “I get it, but it hurt.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. That’s the thing.” Angie wipes her face, swiping away the tear that fell. “I’m not angry or upset with you. I just want you back home.”
I don’t know that I’ll ever return to Pennsylvania. If things with Zach and me keep on this path, who knows where we’ll be, but when I close my eyes at night, I don’t see the city lights anymore. I see stars. I see blue eyes, fireflies, and country hills. My heart is here. My heart is with that man who is probably waiting down at the creek.
Right now she’s in pain, and I don’t want to hurt her more.
But returning back there isn’t what I want now.
Angie drifts off to sleep after we finish talking a little more. I’m late, and I text Zach letting him know. Since he didn’t respond, I’m assuming he’s passed out in his truck. The last two nights we’ve met, there wasn’t much sleeping.
We won’t be heading out to the pond this time, though. I want to make sure I’m home early. Plus, I’m hoping we can figure out how we’re going to tell the boys. I think Cayden will take it really well, but Logan is a toss up.
I get to the creek, but there’s no sign of him.
I shoot him another text.
Me: Hey, Cowboy . . . I’m here.
I sit down at the rock and think about the other night.
“I think if we work out we should build a house here,” I say from my spot curled up in his arms. We finished making love and as magnificent as that is, this is better. Zach lies on his back while I rest on his chest. His heartbeat thumps in my ear as his fingers graze my back.
“Yeah?” he asks, trying to hide his excitement.
“Well, if I keep you around.”
He chuckles. “Maybe I’ll get rid of you.”
“Ha!” I say in his face as I lean up. “You wouldn’t.”
Zach tilts slightly, pushes my hair back, and grins. “I don’t know . . .” His hands lift the blanket. “You’re hot.” He reaches his hand down to my thigh, slowly making his away around the front. “But you always were hot.”
“Is that so?” I ask as I part my legs for him. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
His lips touch my shoulder and I shiver. “All the guys would talk about how if I ever lost you, they’d be the first in line.”
I shake my head. “Is that why you refused to breakup with me?” His finger brushes against my clit, and I moan.
He continues to rub in small feather-light circles. “Nope.” His voice has some extra grit to it. “I would’ve killed anyone who touched you. You, Presley Mae, are everything to me.”
I want to say something back, but as soon as he says the last word his thumb presses down and he fingers me. My head presses back against the pillow as I arch into his touch.
“Your body is mine to do this to,” he murmurs before nipping at my ear. “Mine to have.” He pinches the nerves, and I almost buck off the bed. My legs open wider while I hope he keeps going.
I’m climbing higher as he continues. His fingers slide in and out slowly, keeping me right at the cusp. “I need more.” I lean into his touch, but he jerks back.
“I need to hear it, Presley.”
I don’t know what he needs, but I really want to come. “Zach,” I protest.
“Say the words, and I’ll make you come,” he promises.
My eyes don’t move from his. “What words?” I say while every part of my body is tight. “I’ll say whatever you need.”
Right now, I could scream with desire.
“That you’re mine now.”