Page 18 of Small Town Prince Charming

He doubted she’d reply right away. She probably had things to do, and he didn’t mind. He still hadn’t wrapped his head around the events of the week. In the space of four days, Tracey had become an integral part of his life.

He stared at his phone. All the things he wanted to say over the years poured out of him.

When you left town, I missed you, but I was also jealous. You got out. I wanted to and that wasn’t possible. I wanted to go with you and there wasn’t room. But I never hated you. You were the reason I came to school, the reason I went to play practice and the one bright spot in my life until Maisey. I missed our friendship, and I’m happy you’re back. Thrilled. I missed my chance to tell you how I felt back then, but I won’t miss it now.

He hit send before he could change his mind. He’d always been better at expressing himself in written form versus speaking. His shyness tended to get in the way and mess up his thoughts before he could verbalize them.

His phone vibrated with an incoming call.

Tracey.

His heart raced. He couldn’t ignore her. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

His hands trembled. “Did you get my text?” Why did he feel like he was sixteen again and clumsy? Because he’d never lost his concern or fear of embarrassing himself.

“I did.”

He wanted to say ‘and’ but didn’t. Instead, he held his breath.

“Ryan?”

Shit. He should answer her. He exhaled. “I’m here.”

“Ryan, that was the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me or said in a text,” she replied. “I never hated you, either. In fact, if you hadn’t been dating Carol, I would’ve asked you out. I wanted to ask you to the prom.”

“You did?” he blurted. He never knew that—but then again, she hadn’t said anything before. He settled on the couch and kicked out of his boots.

“Uh-huh. I had it all planned out when I heard you and Carol were through.” She laughed, the sound so soft, he almost missed it. Her voice caught. “But you didn’t split, so I never bothered.”

“You went to prom, though.” He remembered seeing her there. “I almost asked you to dance.”

“Carol told me, if I even spoke to you, she’d kick my ass.”

He should’ve guessed. “I’m sorry.” He’d liked to have danced with her. It would’ve made prom much more memorable.

“Honestly, I’m not. I needed to leave town to realize my dream, but I also needed that time to realize what I wanted. I was a kid and lost back then, but I’m not now.”

He paused to work through what she’d said. “What do you want?”

“I want you.”

His breath caught. “Tracey?”

“I want to be with you, to date you and try to have a relationship. I want the second chance at the first time for us,” she said. “Maybe it’s too bold for me to say that or too fast, but I’m tired of the city, tired of the unknown, and I want the man I’ve crushed on all this time. You.”

“Trace.” He wanted to go to her place and make love to her, but he had to be a dad first.

“Do you still want me? I’m not perfect. I’m too pushy and forthright for my own good. I might not even be good mother material. I can’t give you kids—if that’s what you want.”

“You’ll be a great mother.” Maisey already loved him. “Having kids doesn’t make you a mother.”

“Someday.”

He hadn’t forgotten what she’d said about not being able to have children. He didn’t care. Having her was enough. “Do you want to be a mother? Would you be willing to be Maisey’s mother? That’s important to me, and if you have doubts, then tell me now,” he said. “I’ll respect you more for your honesty, if you don’t think you can do this and have doubts. Being a parent isn’t easy and takes a lot of time. I need someone who wants to be my partner in love and parenting.” Unfortunately, the caveat was too big to ignore, even if he was moving too fast, too. “Everyone in town will know you’re with me and will talk about your past. They’ll rake us over the coals.” He’d been through it a hundred times already.

“I remember.”

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