Say You Want Me

by Corinne Michaels

  I see the fear in her own gaze, but it’s nothing compared to how I feel right now. There’s no easy way to say this, and I know she probably thinks it’s something worse than a baby. “I’m . . . I’m . . . I’m just so happy to see you!” There’s no good reason why I don’t tell her. I just know that I’m not ready.

  She lets out a half laugh. “I’m happy to see you too!” Her all-knowing eyes pierce through me as she studies my face. “Are you sure that’s all? Not that I don’t love seeing you overcome with emotion at being near me, but you look like something’s wrong. What did the doctor say?”

  “It’s not cancer.”

  Her shoulders slump in relief. “Thank God. I was really worried when you wouldn’t say anything other than you needed to visit. Did he say it’s anything serious?”

  She probably drove Zach crazy since she was clearly upset, but I didn’t want to tell her like that. I still don’t want to tell her. I want her support, that’s why I came, but I don’t know if I should tell Wyatt first.

  “The doctor said I needed a break. Stress and all that.” I wave my hand dismissively.

  Her lips purse, and she puts her hand on her hip. “I’m not buying it.”

  “Whatever. I don’t think you’re one to give me shit about secrets.” I lift my brow. She knows damn well what I mean. Presley has lived most of her life clouded by things she suffered through alone. When my brother killed himself, there were only four people who knew the cause of his death. She struggled so she could keep her boys protected. By doing that, she had no one to help ease her burden—until Zach.

  Even then, she wasn’t forthcoming about things. The secrets she held damn near destroyed her life.

  It’s a low blow, but I’m hoping it buys me some time to garner the courage to tell her that her other best friend, and future brother-in-law, knocked me up.

  I’m a fucking mess.

  Pres grabs my bag in silence.

  “I’m sorry,” I say, feeling like shit. “I didn’t mean that. I’m being a bitch.”

  “I know. And I’ll be the first to remind you that secrets cause damage.” She grips my arm and looks at me with concern. “I love you, and I’m worried. I know something is going on. Something that you want to tell me, otherwise, you wouldn’t be here. You can sell your stress story to someone who hasn’t known you for almost twenty years. Try again.”

  Damn her. “Give me a few hours.”

  “How about we grab some Starbucks before we head to Bell Buckle?”

  “It’s like you know me or something.” I smile. This is the best part of our friendship, we know when to let something drop and share a deep affection for coffee.

  We grab our drinks. I subtly get decaf, which is pretty much blasphemous, and we start the trip to Bell Buckle. We chat and she tells me all about the wedding plans. It’s amazing how much this girl got done in a few months. I shouldn’t be surprised, considering she did the same thing with the bakery. It was a concept one day, and then the next thing I knew, we were signing a lease. Presley is smart, hardworking, and has the biggest heart of anyone I know.

  When we enter the town limits, my muscles tense. We pass through, and I wonder when I’ll see Wyatt. It’s going to happen, but I’m so not ready to deal with him.

  I have to figure out my plan so when I do see him, I have answers. Do I want to do this completely on my own? My parents and brother live in Florida (where I will stay far away from), Presley lives here in Tennessee, and the baby’s father . . . I have no one in Media other than the people who work for me. Having a baby is hard enough for married couples, but being a single mom with no support system—it will be damn near impossible.

  One freaking fantastic night has completely changed my life.

  “Angie?” Presley says, pulling my attention away from staring out the window.

  “What?”

  “I asked if you wanted to go out tonight with Grace and Emily? They’d love to see you.”

  I sigh as I realize I can’t go out drinking. “I don’t know. I’m really out of it. And really tired.” I’m tired all the time now.

  Presley looks at me with confusion clear on her face. “Umm . . . I’ve known you a long ass time and you’ve never been one to pass on a night on the town. Are you still sick? You look okay.”

  The urge to blurt it out claws its way up. Tears start to form as I look out the window to avoid her gaze. Everything is going to change. I’m so beyond screwed. “No. I mean, I’m okay. I’ll be fine. I would rather stay home. Maybe tomorrow?” Admitting this tidbit of news is going to change the entire conversation. Presley is a fantastic mother, and I know she’ll see this as something great.

  Not that I don’t love kids, but I never really saw myself as a mom. I’m content with my trendy apartment in downtown Philadelphia, the bakery, and my shitty dating life. It’s all that makes me—me.

  It hits me then. No one is going to want to date me now.

  I’m going to be the single mother that people pity.

  I’m going to be alone.

  My hand covers my mouth as a tear falls.

  “Angie.” Presley puts the car in park at the end of her dirt driveway. “Angie, look at me.”

  I shake my head. “I’m fine. It’s fine.”

  “What did the doctor say?”

  Her voice is so full of love and compassion. There’s something deep inside me that has a feeling she knows.

  I clutch my stomach as I turn to look at her. “I’m pregnant. I’m—”

  “Holy shit! You’re pregnant?” Presley’s hands fly to her mouth.

  “Apparently.”

  I can only imagine the shit rolling around in her head. My chest starts to heave as I think about this absolute mess. I’ve been in some shit before, but this is a whole new level. I’m going to have something that needs me to survive. There’s no way I’ll be able to handle this. I can barely handle my own life let alone another living thing. “Oh my God! I can’t do this!”

  Presley pulls me into her arms as I cry. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “No.” I pull back. “It’s not. I can’t have a baby! I can’t even take care of a plant. I’m alone up there. How am I going to do this?”

  “You can do it because you’re strong and loving. How far along are you?”

  My eyes lift to hers, and I almost choke on my next words. “I’m two months.”

  “That means . . .” I see the wheels turning as she calculates. “Oh! Oh my God! You were here two months ago! For when Zach proposed!”

  “Yup.” My voice is full of despair.

  “Wyatt?”

  “Yes. Fucking Wyatt. Why am I so stupid? Why, out of all the goddamn people in the world, does it have to be him? The guy who spent his entire life pining away over you. The damn man who left me in the middle of the night so I could see my way out of his bed? I mean, couldn’t it have been some guy in Philly so my entire life didn’t implode?”

  Her smile brightens, and her eyes shine with tenderness. “I know you’re freaking out. I don’t blame you, but you’re going to be okay. You’ll see, this’ll be fine. Y’all are going to have a baby! And maybe there’s a reason he left you that night . . . which by the way, you never told me about.”

  That’s what she focuses on?

  “How? How is this going to be okay?”

  “It’s not part of your plan, I’ll give you that. But Wyatt will be a great dad.”

  I shake my head. “I don’t even know what I’m going to do. Maybe I won’t tell him. Maybe I won’t keep it or even have it.”

  She knows me well enough that she doesn’t respond. I may not be happy about this, but I know that I’m keeping it. Presley knows that, too. It’s just so much. Too many things to think about. Telling Presley was the easy part—it’s going to be telling Wyatt that will be difficult. He has a right to know, but it’s the last thing I want to say to him. With that will come a barrage of questions and issues. Things I haven’t even figured out myself.
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  “That’s your choice, babe. I can tell you that it’s not you.”

  I groan. “I hate you.”

  “I hate you right back.”

  “It’s your fault this even happened!” I throw my hands in the air.

  Presley’s eyes widen. “Me?”

  “Yeah,” I say as I point right at her. “If you hadn’t made me come visit, I wouldn’t have slept with him. If you hadn’t fallen in love with Zach again, I wouldn’t be here.”

  “Well, since we’re passing blame. If you hadn’t gone to college in Maine and weren’t my roommate, I wouldn’t have met Todd. If I hadn’t met Todd, I wouldn’t have been married and living in Pennsylvania. If all that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be back in Bell Buckle. So, whose fault is it really?”

  “I reiterate again that I hate you.”

  She laughs and shifts the car back to drive. “I love you, too.”

  We pull up to the house, and the boys are already there waiting for us, jumping and waving. The sadness and dread I felt moments ago dissipates as I rush out of the car. “Cay! Logan!”

  “Auntie!”

  I pull them into my arms and squeeze. They’re such great kids. They’ve been through hell but still smile. A lot of that is thanks to both Presley and Zach’s families, which I guess includes Wyatt.

  “My boys! How’s school?” I ask, knowing the grumbles will come.

  “It’s great. Logan has a girlfriend!” Cayden sniggers.

  “Oh?”

  “I do not!” Logan punches Cayden. I giggle and instantly feel lighter.

  “Angie,” Zach says with a smile from his spot on the porch. “So glad you’re here. Pres needs someone to rein her in on this wedding stuff.”

  “I don’t know if I’ll be any help with that.” I grin as I walk forward to embrace him.

  There are times when I miss my brother more than anything, and this is one of them. I wouldn’t be hugging this man right now. I’d be curled up on the couch—not pregnant—with my sister-in-law and brother. We’d have wine and talk about the boys and how I need to stop living like I’m twenty. Todd would grumble about how no one is good enough for me, but in the next breath, he would comment about how I will die alone if I don’t find someone halfway decent. It would’ve ended with us laughing and me falling asleep on the couch. I’d go get donuts in the morning, chat with Todd about the morning news, and then head home. I wish it were him I was hugging.

  “You look great.” He smiles.

  I feel like total shit. “Thanks. The place looks amazing!”

  “We’re so happy here,” Presley says as she wraps her arm around Zach’s middle.

  The last time I was here, the walls were going up and there was a constant stream of contractors. But this is gorgeous. The house is huge and overlooks the lake on Zach’s property. A massive wrap-around porch, adorned with Adirondack chairs, gives them the perfect view. It’s brand new, but the way they built it makes it appear as though it is meant to be here. I take it all in and feel happy for my friend. Regardless of what I’m going through, Presley deserves a life filled with everything she could want.

  “It’s perfect. I—”

  “Well, well.” It’s a voice I’d know anywhere. “If it isn’t Big City.”

  Son of a bitch.

  I turn and come face to face with the flashing smile, honey-colored eyes, and brown hair that I’ve dreamed of. Wyatt Hennington stands before me in a pair of fitted jeans and a black shirt, and he’s looking at me with heat in his gaze. Everything inside me clenches, especially my belly. God, he’s fucking hot. I fight leaping into his arms and remembering the way he kissed. A shiver runs down my spine as that night flashes back to me. Why does my body react this way to him?

  He extends his hand so his fingers run against my cheek, just barely touching me. The skin burns as he trails to my lips. I stand like a statue, staring at him. He shouldn’t be able to render me speechless, but he does.

  “Why are you here?” I ask with a touch of disappointment.

  Wyatt Hennington holds me captive as he closes the small distance between us.

  “You look beautiful, Angel.” The way his eyes intensify when he says that makes my heart stutter.

  “Why don’t we go inside?” Presley saves me, and I let out a sigh of relief.

  “Sounds great.”

  “Come on, Auntie, I’ll show you my new room!” Cayden says, turning and running into the house and leaving Logan to trail behind.

  Okay, so this isn’t what I planned, but then again nothing seems to be going my way. I can handle going inside, eating, and waiting for him to leave. Then, I can freak out. I have a little bit of time that I need to keep this to myself. A plan. I need a plan.

  “Well, come on then,” Presley says, amusement clear in her voice.

  “We’ll meet you in there,” Wyatt says, and I watch in shock as Presley and Zach go inside, closing the door behind them.

  My jaw falls slack. I can’t be alone with him. I’m not ready to tell him anything. Although, that’s the damn reason I’m here. But not yet.

  “I think I should go in . . .” I start to walk.

  Wyatt’s fingers grip my arm, stopping me. “Talk to me for a second.”

  I turn, look at his fingers, and back to his eyes. “There’s nothing to say.”

  “How are you, Angel?”

  “I’m wonderful. Thanks for asking. I’m going inside now.” I start to move away, but he holds tight.

  It’s a mystery to me how he never married. From everything that Presley says, he’s a great man. He’s kind, loyal, considerate, clearly he’s hot, but he refuses to do any serious commitment. I often wonder how much of it is because of the fact that he was in love with my sister-in-law. He spent his entire life loving her and watching her love his brother.

  She and I have spoken at length about it. Her heart broke when he told her all those years ago how he felt. They’ve been best friends since they were little, and they still are, but she never returned his affections. Wyatt is the man who pushed Zach back into her arms. He loved her so much, he let her go.

  “Don’t be like that.” He rubs his thumb across my wrist.

  I can’t believe this is happening right now. I thought I’d have a day or two before I saw him. Clearly that isn’t the case. I barely mustered the courage to tell Presley, now I have to figure out a way to tell him. Fuck my life.

  “I just want to go inside, Wyatt. I really need to talk to Presley.” I whine the last part. If I can get away from him, I can get my head on straight. I’m only here for a few days. I figured we would talk for like five minutes before I left, and then I could be on my merry way.

  “Well, I think we should talk about the last time you were here.” His voice drops an octave lower.

  “I don’t think there’s a point.” I pull my hand back.

  I bite back the words about how the last time I was here, our “talking” altered the course of our lives.

  “I think there is.”

  “What would you like to talk about, Wyatt?”

  “We could skip the talking if you’d prefer. I’m sure Presley and Zach wouldn’t mind having their house to themselves.” He grabs my wrist again and pulls me close. “And you can try to come on to me again. Only this time, I won’t fight you so much.”

  Bastard.

  “I think you’re confused.” I was not the chaser, he was. “You wanted me the minute you saw me. You watched every time I bent over, you couldn’t help yourself, could you?” The heat between us just rose about a hundred degrees. “You wanted me, Wyatt Hennington. You were the one who was too busy trying to charm me. I was here for my friend, and you made it your job to bed me.”

  Our mouths are mere inches apart. It would be so easy to kiss him. The desire we both have eclipses any anger or frustration sitting below the surface. All that surrounds us is this. I breathe him in. The heat ripples off his body. A body that I know is solid and damn near perfect.

 
Kiss me, Wyatt.

  No. I don’t want that. It’s the damn hormones.

  “You don’t even know me,” Wyatt says as our noses almost touch. “You have no idea what I was doing.”

  “I know what you weren’t doing.” I push back. “You weren’t being a gentleman.”

  He smirks. “If I remember correctly, you don’t like gentlemen.”

  “Maybe I like them after!”

  He’s right. I liked him very much not being a gentleman while we were in bed together. What I didn’t like was waking up and finding him gone, as if he expected me to show myself out like I was some whore. The thought stops me for second. I don’t know . . . maybe I was. I did give it up pretty early. I guess the saying, “Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free,” is accurate. But that doesn’t mean I’m not pissed.

  “You have some nerve.” I rip my arm out of his grasp.

  “Why the hell are you so mad?”

  This man is out of his mind. “You left me! I woke up to find you missing!” I can’t even believe this. “I waited for thirty minutes. Then it was clear that you left so I could see myself out. So I did. So much for Southern charm.”

  “Women. Y’all are the most confusing creatures on the planet.” Wyatt gets close again and grabs my waist.

  “You’re not any better! You chase me for almost two years, telling me how fantastic it was the last time and all the new things you want to do to me, but then you get it and you’re gone.” His hand stays where it is, even when I try to pull back, so I keep going. “And to top it off, you didn’t even bother trying to call or anything after. I mean, nothing.” My eyes narrow as I really get pissed. “Don’t even act like you couldn’t get my phone number, Wyatt Hennington. I just wasn’t worth it.”

  “Honey.” He leans in closer.

  “Don’t call me ‘honey’.”

  “Darlin’.” He grins. “I work. Every single day.”

  And this affects me how? “Whatever that means.” I cross my arms and wait for him to finish. I don’t know what working for Presley’s parents have anything to do with him leaving.

  Wyatt ignores my snip and continues, “See, down here, the horses don’t give a shit if it’s Sunday. They need to eat. And since I work for the Townsend’s, I have to make sure the farm is taken care of. I didn’t leave you or want you to leave, but I wasn’t going to wake you at five in the morning . . . not unless it was for another round.”