Say You'll Stay by Corinne Michaels Page A

that.”
    “Good.”
    When the music stops, he bends in a dramatic bow. “I’m still pissed.”
    He chuckles. “You’ll get over it. Just like you’re over him.” His chin raises in the direction of the bar. I’m a fool if I look, but I’ve always been stupid when it comes to Zach. He leans against the railing, staring at me while Felicia vies for his attention. When our gazes lock, everything disappears.
    There’s no one else in the room, this town, or this world right now.
    Zach and I might be over, but my heart doesn’t seem to care. I’m deluding myself if I think otherwise.
    But I’ll never go there again.
    I remember why I’m here. The reason my life is now on the path I’m traveling. Zach left, I met Todd, and this is the consequence.

I AWAKE THE NEXT MORNING with a killer headache. It was exhausting trying to avoid Zach all night. I ducked out pretty early. Thankfully Grace offered to take me home.
    Not wanting to wallow in my fury of conflicting emotions, I decide to head into town to get a few office supplies. I’m lucky that most of the town is at church so I can get around undetected.
    Or maybe not.
    “Oh, my God! Presley?” a woman shrieks as I exit my car. “Is that you?”
    I turn to see one of my high school girlfriends. “Emily Underwood!” I pull her into a hug. “You look amazing!” Her blonde hair hangs to the middle of her back, and she’s ridiculously skinny. She was always pretty, but she’s stunning now.
    “Thanks.” She fixes her shirt. “I’ve been singing up in Nashville, so lookin’ good kind of helps get you a gig in that town.”
    “That’s awesome. I know you loved to sing when we were kids.”
    She sang in every play, chorus, and at church for as long as I can remember. Her mother and mine are close friends. Well, everyone who’s the same age here are close friends.
    Emily shrugs. “I can’t seem to stop. It’s my passion.”
    We start to walk down the sidewalk. “That’s really great, Em. I’m so happy you’ve found something you love.”
    “Thanks.” She smiles. “What about you? What the hell are you doing back in Bell Buckle?”
    Oh, just trying to not go insane. “Had some things happen, needed a change.” I don’t want to explain it anymore.
    “Good for you. Oh, my God!” Her voice gets very dramatic. “Have you seen Zach?” Her eyes alight with wonder. “He’s gotten so good looking. I mean, he’s with the town bitch, but.” She sighs. “Now that you’re back . . .”
    Now that I’m back what? He’s got his girlfriend. I’ve got my miserable life. End of story.
    “Did I mention I have two boys that are almost eleven now?” I try to throw her off the topic.
    She stops and stands in front of me. “Oh, nice try, Presley Townsend. You’re not going to give me the questions with a question thing. You know you can’t pull that crap down here.”
    I sigh and decide to give her a tiny piece of information. “I saw him. He was with Felicia. We said hello, I said goodbye.”
    I have to remember to answer only the question. I don’t know how anyone tries to get away with anything here. My mother could’ve been a detective with the way she’s able to wring out information. You think they’re asking one thing, but the follow up question is what gets you.
    She smirks. “Were the sparks there?”
    “Can we not talk about this?” I beseech her. “I’m sorry, it’s been a long day, and I’m out of coffee.” And I don’t want to think about him. It’s bad enough he starred in my dream last night; I don’t need that becoming reality.
    “Oh, let’s go to the coffee shop,” she suggests. “We can talk more about all the things you’ve been doing since you’ve been gone.”
    Yay! Not.
    “Sounds great.”
    We get some coffee, which immediately makes me feel more human. Everyone looks as I walk in, and I hear the whispers. God, I miss Philly. At least there I could walk into a Starbucks and no one would even notice.
    “You