Say You’ll Stay

Chapter 17 – Vasey

Chapter Seventeen

VASEY

“ I still can’t believe he shot you.” I rest my head against West's chest. Despite having been shot hours ago, he remains as handsome as ever.

“It’s for the best.” I snap my head up and glare at him. What a ridiculous thing to say.

“You being shot isn’t for the best. You’re lucky it was only in the shoulder.” I can’t bear the thought of something happening to him.

“That little shit’s in jail, so—” He shrugs. I huff out a breath.

"If something had happened to you..." Tears sting my eyes. “I only just got you back.”

“Sweetness.” West slides his fingers through my hair. “You have always had me.” I smile against his chest. He's not wrong. On some level, I knew he was always there. It's why I'd gone to him to begin with. I knew he could fix everything. He always did in the end. This time, with Gideon, was no different.

“I should go check on Jasmine.” I am expecting her to show up soon. I’m surprised she slept through all the commotion. But ever since West has come into her life, I’ve noticed she sleeps more soundly. She trusts him. That thought alone makes my heart happy. I’m looking forward to telling her that Gideon will no longer be a problem for her.

“Ware is going to hire a new nanny.”

“West.” I sigh.

“It will be an additional pair of hands for Jasmine. We’ll stay across the street, and you’ll still be a part of her life. Ware won’t stop that. You can go over as often as you like, but you’ll be in our bed at the end of the day.” I chew on my bottom lip, debating this. I don’t want Jasmine to think that I’m abandoning her. But I also know that I’ve put my life on hold for long enough. "You also get to have your own life, Vasey. There is nothing wrong with picking yourself sometimes.”

“And what is it that I’m picking?”

West’s hand slides down to my ass, giving it a squeeze. “Our family. I left because I wanted to be able to provide and give you something. That is all I have ever wanted. Now I can do all those things.”

“But what about you, West? What do you want?” He has consistently prioritized my dreams and desires. What about his?

“I want you. I have wanted you since the day I first laid eyes on you.”

“There isn’t more?” I don’t want him to wake up in twenty years and resent me because we lived out my dreams.

“Your dreams are mine too, sweetness. When we would lie in the barn and you would envision a future and explain everything to me, you also inspired me to desire those things. I could envision us working together to achieve these goals. Before you, I only lived day to day. You gave me dreams.” I melt into him.

“I love you so damn much.”

“Love you too, sweetness.” He leans down to kiss me. When he tries to make it deeper, I pull back.

“You’ve been shot,” I remind him.

“I’m fine—” West is cut off by a scream. “The hell?” He releases his hold on me. “Stay,” he orders.

“You think this is over!” The high-pitched screech makes my skin crawl. I hastily follow West toward the front door, fully aware of who is making the commotion. How had I forgotten all about her?

“Fucking hell, this cunt,” I hear a man say as West pulls open the front door to reveal Roberta along with the man I’d seen in West’s office the day I’d gone over to The Academy. Next to him is a beautiful, curvy blonde with long, thick hair that falls around her in waves. She's glaring at Roberta. If looks could kill, she’d be six feet under.

“All of you.” Roberta waves her finger around at everyone. “You did this!”

I roll my eyes. “No, you did this.” I’m so over her shit. I’ve dealt with it for long enough for Jasmine's sake, but I no longer have to. Roberta is nothing now that she doesn’t have Ware to back her. She’s spiraling right now because she knows it too. “You and your son got exactly what you deserved, Roberta. He's a demon spawn, and guess what that makes you?”

“You can’t talk to me that way,” Roberta states, indignant as usual. Nothing will ever change this woman. I can't help the laugh that comes out of me.

“I just did. Let me make myself crystal clear, Roberta. If you come near any of us again, including Jasmine, I’ll make sure it’s the last thing you ever do in your life.” I should’ve anticipated her next move because it’s typical Roberta behavior, but before her hand connects with my face, the curvy blonde grabs her wrist, twisting it behind her back. Roberta lets out a high-pitched scream.

“You’re done here.” The woman shoves her. Roberta stumbles forward, one of her heels breaking in the process before she hits the stone driveaway. “Hi.” The woman steps right over her. “I’m Lauren.”

“Lauren Harris,” the man beside her adds. Lauren rolls her eyes, but a smile plays at her lips. “And this is my husband, Griffin.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I tell them both.

“No, it’s nice to meet you. We’ve been waiting for this day.” Lauren beams at me.

“You have no idea.” Her husband wraps an arm around her. “Should have known it would take you getting shot to get your girl back.”

“Don’t get pissed because I’ll take a bullet for my woman.” West pulls me into his side.

“Yeah.” Lauren elbows her Griffin. “Pretty sure you two held me at gunpoint when we met.” Griffin gets a sheepish expression, confirming it to be true.

“What!” There is a story there, and I want to hear it. “Why don’t you both come in?”

I want to hear their love story. There is nothing better than people falling in love and everyone getting their happily ever after.