by Piper Rayne
I put my arm around her. “I’d have it no other way.”
“I might talk your dad into getting a place here for when we visit. We could rent it out when we’re not in town. It’d be a good investment.” She winks.
I chuckle, knowing that will be a selling point to him. “I’d love that.”
She pats her hand on my shoulder. “I’m only a flight away.”
“I know.”
She sighs and our heads touch, the two of us deep in thought. This might be the hardest thing my mom has ever had to do, and I’m proud of her for taking it so well. She wouldn’t always have been so graceful about accepting my decision.
The sound of tires on gravel interrupts our moment.
“Clara told me they have a big family dinner, that no one would be around.” I stand and look out the curtain. A boulder sinks into my stomach when I see Cade’s truck park and him getting out of it. “It’s Cade.”
Then we hear his footsteps on the wooden stairs outside the apartment and a loud knock sounds on the door.
My mom pats my knee. “I’ll handle this.”
She walks over to the door while I shut myself in the bathroom. Sooner or later, I’ll have to face him, but not right now.
“Hello, Cade,” she says.
“Hello, Mrs. Knight. I don’t think we officially met the other night. I’m Cade Greene.”
“Oh, I know who you are.”
“I suppose you do. Is Presley here?”
There’s a pause. “She is, but she’s not here for you. You’ve done enough.”
I hear a hand land on the door. “Please. I just need a few minutes. That’s all. I’m an idiot.”
“You are,” Mom says, and I bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“I love your daughter. Please let me tell her.”
I suck in a sharp breath.
“Cade—” she says.
“Presley!” he yells into the apartment. “Please talk to me. I love you. I know I’ve been so stupid, but if you give me ten minutes, I’ll explain it all. And if you still hate me and want nothing to do with me, then I’ll drive to the airport.”
What is he talking about? Why would he drive to the airport?
My hand wraps around the doorknob.
“I’m sure you’re a good man, but sometimes things can’t be mended. And in truth, if you didn’t realize you loved my daughter until you lost her, I’m not sure I’m on board with you talking to her now.”
“I’ll gladly explain myself to you too. My mom died when I was twelve and—”
I turn the knob and step out. His shoulders deflate when he sees me. He tries to get around my mom, but she steps in front of him, her hand on his chest.
I want to laugh. “It’s okay, Mom.”
She turns around and steps aside. “Presley.”
There’s a warning in her tone, but I want to at least hear him out.
“Will you go on a walk with me?” He holds out his hand. “You’re welcome to come, Mrs. Knight.”
“No.” She steps back farther. “You two go.”
She puts her hand on my shoulder and kisses my cheek as though she wants to give me the strength she thinks I need. And she’d be right.
I step out of the apartment.
“We won’t be gone long,” he says to my mom and shuts the door.
I walk down the stairs and his hand slides around mine, but I slide mine back out. I’m not ready for that.
“The day you found me out by the lake, I was remembering my mom.” He leads us down the path through the woods. “I already knew you weren’t just a friend with benefits by then. It wasn’t like I was hit over the head with it and opened my eyes one day and realized I wanted to be more than just friends with you. It was gradual. That day, I was scared to have sex with you because I didn’t know what would happen. And then I ended up making love to you. Maybe part of me wanted to know how that would feel because I knew I was going to bail.” He shakes his head as we come to the clearing of the lake.
“I don’t understand. I get that neither of us wanted a relationship, but after the feelings developed, we didn’t really have a choice.”
He stares out at the lake. “My mom drowned in this lake.”
My eyes close. “I’m so sorry.”
“I know. Everyone is. I was twelve, and my dad had us all at football practice. Chevelle was home with my mom. She thought we were all outside having fun skating on the lake and she snuck out. She was always chasing us around, wanting to play with her older brothers. Mom ran out to get her when she realized she was gone, and when she got here, Chevelle was standing in the middle of the frozen lake. We’d just returned from football and saw my mom running to the lake. She yelled to my dad and we all followed.”
I take his hand. “You don’t have to tell me this. It’s okay.”
He looks at me, tears glistening in his eyes. “I do. Because I love you and I want you to know why I struggled to accept my feelings.” His Adam’s apple bobs when he swallows. “Mom got across the ice and told Chevelle to come back to my dad. As soon as my sister was safe… that’s when the ice splintered. By the time my dad got to her, it was too late.”
I tighten my grip. “Oh, Cade.”
He nods. “It was so long ago.” He blinks and his eyes start to clear as he widens them and sniffs to stop the tears from falling. “I’m scared. I’m scared that if I admit these feelings I have for you and let myself sink into them, there’s a chance that I could lose you. I don’t want to feel that kind of pain again.”
I walk into his arms and hold him tightly. This was Marla’s cryptic message. I knew it had to do with his mom, but it’s amazing how it all fits now that I have all the pieces.
“I’m sorry, Presley. For putting you through all that. I never planned on falling in love with you, but I did, and I’d be a fucking fool to let you go. I finally realized that it doesn’t hurt any less losing you this way than if we were together and something happened.” He takes me by the shoulders and pushes me out of his embrace so that he can meet my gaze. “If you want to go home to Connecticut, I understand. I embarrassed you, and I promise to make it up to you. If there’s still a chance… I can’t go tonight, but I’ll square things away here and meet you there. That is, if you’ll have me.”
I place my hands on his stubbled cheeks. “I’ve got a tougher skin than you give me credit for. I’m not going anywhere. I like Sunrise Bay.”
“But Nikki said—”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
“So you’re staying?”
I nod.
“Can you forgive me?” He looks as if he’s holding his breath, waiting for my response.
“All I ever wanted was for you to be honest with me. I understand you’re scared. I am too. But we can navigate through all of it together. You just have to let me in.”
“You’re in. You’re already in my heart. I’m not sure I could keep you out no matter how hard I tried.”
I rest my chin on his chest, looking up at him. “Then let’s do this.”
“Rules?” he asks. His hand slides around my neck, his fingers threading through my hair.
I shake my head. “No rules this time.”
“Sounds perfect to me.”
He dips his head but pauses right before his lips touch mine. “And don’t feel like you have to say you love me back. I’ll totally wait.”
“Once you set everyone in Sunrise Bay straight and declare your love for me, I’ll get back to you on the I love you thing. Maybe you can put up a banner downtown or something.”
He laughs, tilting his head back.
I grab his shirt and pull him toward me. “I love you too.”
His lips fall to mine, and for the first time, all the pieces of my life fit together perfectly. I know it’s a fleeting feeling and our road will be bumpy, but as I told him, as long as we’re on the ride together, that’s good enough for me.
One year later
“I’m not so sure a
bout this,” I say to Clara. I’m just being honest—I don’t know if Presley will be cool wearing this ring.
“Believe me, she’ll love it. And hello, it’s been a year. No more dragging your feet, Cade Greene.”
I hold up my hands. “Hey, I’ve been all in.”
And I have been. I’ll be the first to admit it took me forever to realize that losing Presley would hurt no matter if I let her slip away now or in fifty years. If I didn’t want to love someone, I never should’ve picked her for a friends with benefits arrangement. It was a losing bet from the get-go.
I ended up moving out of my childhood home, and Presley and I bought a small house on the outskirts of downtown together, close to my parents and close to our businesses. It’s actually cheesy how we walk to work together when it’s nice, and sometimes on slow days, we walk home for lunch. Wink, wink, if you get what I mean.
“I’m so happy for you guys,” Clara says.
Watching not only my own relationship with Presley grow but watching her relationship with Clara grow into a true friendship and sisterhood this past year has been everything. I think it’s something they both needed. But still, I’m not sure I can trust Clara on this.
I look at the ring again. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime question. If I fuck this up, it’s all she’ll remember.”
“You’re not going to mess it up. Look at this place.” She gestures to the ground beyond the deck.
A path of tea lights in luminary bags lead up to the entrance of a teepee with white sheets over it. Inside is a big fluffy blanket and a laptop set up to display the last year of our lives in a slideshow. Thank goodness for Clara’s and my family’s need to constantly snap pictures. I did have to swear Nikki to silence, which wasn’t easy.
“You better go. She’s on her way home. Thanks for your help.”
“We’ll see you at the brewery.” She jumps up and down, clapping. Always the cheerleader.
“If she says no, have the whiskey ready.”
She hugs me hard. “She’s not going to. Welcome to the family.”
I shake my head. I’m looking forward to this, but I’ll be happy when this is over. It’s nerve-racking as hell.
I catch sight of Presley’s SUV driving down the road and I push Clara out. She sneaks away through the thick trees. The sun is about to set, so the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
I leave the note I prepared on the table before heading outside. Waiting in the teepee is excruciating as I see Presley turn on the lights in the house. A minute later, she walks out on the balcony and glances down.
“Cade,” she says with that smile I love. “What are you up to?”
She walks down the stairs and through the path of luminaries, her eyes locked with mine. She’s not stupid, she knows exactly what this is. And I pray her smile means my racing heart can calm down.
When she reaches the teepee, I offer my hand to steady her. “Take off your shoes.”
She does and sits on the fluffy blanket. “It’s gorgeous.”
I lean forward and kiss her. “You’re gorgeous.” I hand her the laptop and kiss her one more time.
“What did you do?”
“Stop asking questions and press Play.”
She does, and a three-minute video of pictures and videos of us this past year plays. Her head falls on my chest and I wrap my arm around her shoulders.
“I love you,” she says in the middle, and I point at the screen for her to pay attention.
This section shows our trip to Connecticut so I could meet her dad, which is when I asked him for his daughter’s hand. I told him I didn’t know when I would propose, but I knew I wanted her to be my wife. We went on a ski trip and headed down to the lower forty-eight to see Xavier play. The rest of the video is filled with kisses my family caught when we didn’t know anyone was watching.
At the end, Will You Marry Me? comes on the screen and the music continues.
She turns to me, tears glistening in her eyes.
“I never imagined my life could be this happy. All those years I pushed it away, and I’m glad I did because I think you and I have the perfect love. You’re meant for me, Presley Knight, and I think I’m meant for you. This past year has been amazing. How about we make it last a lifetime?” I pull out the ring, scared to death for this part. I never should have let Clara talk me into this.
“Cade, I’d love to marry you. We are meant for each other.” She rises on her knees and kisses me.
“Whoa now, hold on, lady, you gotta wear the ring first.”
She giggles and falls back down to her bum.
I offer the silver-banded diamond ring. “This was your Grandma Beatrice’s diamond, but I put it in a new setting. Clara thought—”
“I love it,” she gushes.
“I have another one picked out if you don’t like this,” I say, giving her an out.
She shakes her head. “No. She’s the one who brought me back here all those years ago. When she died, I met a stranger at a cemetery who would later turn out to be you. It’s only fitting that we use her diamond.”
I smile, remembering that day I mistook her for Clara.
“That might not have been our time, but fate brought us together again.”
“Thank goodness, because I think you saved my life.”
She straddles me and I put my hands on the back of her head, threading my fingers through her beautiful blonde hair.
“We saved each other,” she says.
She holds her hand out and I slip the ring on her finger. A perfect fit.
“Kiss me, soon-to-be Mrs. Greene?”
“Every day for the rest of my life.” Her lips land on mine and my body finally feels at peace.
A half hour later, it’s all I can do to get Presley out of the teepee. Thank goodness we had some privacy.
“Do I have to put a bra on?” she asks.
“I wish you didn’t, but yes, we’re going to be in public.” I stand with my hand out.
“Public? Why?”
“Because the first day of tourism season starts tomorrow and we’re going to support the town. Plus, I want to show off my new fiancée.”
Her hand lands in mine and I pull her up. “Well, when you put it that way.”
We walk toward downtown, enjoying the nice spring night.
Everyone from Sunrise Bay has come out. As we approach Truth or Dare, there’s a mass of people inside and outside because of the new beer flavor releasing today. Jed took care of it for me. But people walking past the brewery are gawking at the large sign out front.
I love Presley Knight… soon-to-be Presley Greene.
“My declaration of love to you in front of the whole town.” I hold out my arms. “Just like you wanted.”
“You didn’t,” Presley says, standing in front of me with her forehead on my chest.
“You want me to put it up in the square instead?”
Clara runs out of the brewery. “So?”
I lift Presley’s hand and she turns around.
“She said yes,” I say.
Everyone cheers and claps, and Presley turns the most beautiful shade of pink. Then she punches me in the side. “Seriously, talk about embarrassing.”
“You’re embarrassed by this? All the shit that’s been talked about you and the fact that you agreed to be my wife is what embarrasses you?”
She wraps her arms around my stomach. “I love you.”
I kiss her forehead, her nose, and her mouth. “I love you. Let’s go celebrate. Grandma Ethel is a little upset I’m not using her ring.”
I take Presley’s hand and we walk into Truth or Dare, thanking everyone for their well wishes. My family is in the corner and soon we’re all nestled together, everyone hugging Presley and looking at the ring.
“Finally,” Adam says, cuddled up beside his new girlfriend. He’s finally moved on and Motown has become go-to music for him, but not just to forget Lucy.
“Better late than never, right?” I say.
He fist bumps me.
The room quiets and I groan, thinking Grandma Ethel has a mic and is about to give a speech that will no doubt be either embarrassing or off-color. I find Presley and bring her in front of me, but everyone in the bar is parting, making a path right to us in the back corner.
“What the hell?” Jed says when a dark-haired woman emerges. “Holy shit.”
“Lucy?” Adam says, sounding confused and disbelieving.
“Hey, babe, it’s nuts out there, right? I forgot how crazy the night before tourist season begins is.” She slides between Adam and his girlfriend, kissing him on the cheek.
Holy shit is right.
“That’s Lucy?” Presley whispers, and I nod.
“Excuse me. Excuse me.” Lucy’s mom comes through the crowd next and her hand wraps around Lucy’s arm. “Lucy, you can’t run off like that.” Then she seems to notice who Lucy’s with. “I—oh, Adam.”
“Susan?” Adam asks, looking between his estranged wife and her mother.
Lucy slides her arm through Adam’s again and looks my way. “Oh. I saw the sign. Are you Presley?”
Presley nods.
“I’m Lucy Greene,” she introduces herself, then proceeds to give us all hugs and tell us how she missed us.
“Susan? What the hell is going on?” Adam asks, sounding more angry than confused now.
“She suffered an accident and… she lost her memory, Adam. She has amnesia.”
“So?”
Susan shakes her head, her concerned gaze on her daughter the entire time. “She thinks you’re still happily married.”
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Chapter One