Marriage Proposal from a Princess

Chapter 14

Four months later

Grayson's P.O.V.

These past four months with Lacey have been the best ones of my life. She's the only reason I look forward to getting up every day, because I know the first thing I'll see is her beautiful face. I love her so much. There really is no one else for me.

I haven't told her I loved her yet, but things are going to change tonight. The only reason I haven't told her is because I still have that fear of losing her. I realized, though, that I can't keep living in fear. I eventually have to tell her how I feel.

I have the perfect night planned. We're gonna go to her favorite restaurant for dinner. We're then gonna head down to our spot. I'm gonna take both her hands in mine. I'm gonna look her in the eyes and tell her how I feel. It's going to be perfect.

I'm pulled from my thoughts when my phone rings. I check the caller ID to see that it's Lacey.

"Hey, beautiful."

"Hey."

"What's up?"

"I was just wondering what I should wear to dinner tonight. Since you keep saying where we're going is a surprise, I figured I'd ask you what I should wear."

"It's a formal attire. If that helps."

"It does. Thank you."

"You're welcome, sweet pea."

"Bye."

"Bye."

I put my phone back in my pocket only to have it ring again. I pull it back out and see that it's Jeremy calling. What the hell does he want? He hasn't wanted anything to do with me or Lacey these last months. Why is he calling me now?

"Hello."

"Grayson, we need to talk."

"About what?"

"I can't say over the phone. Can you meet me at the park?"

"I'm at work right now. Can't it wait until tomorrow? I'm off then."

"No. I need to talk to you as soon as I can."

"My lunch break is in a half hour. I'll see you then?"

"Yeah. That'll work."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

The next half hour goes by pretty quickly. I clock out of work and head out to my car. I begin the drive towards the park.

Once I get there, I immediately spot Jeremy. We get out of our cars at the same time. I walk over to him.

"What's so important that it couldn't wait until tomorrow?"

"Let's take a walk."

"Fine."

We begin to walk along the trail at the park. Once we reach a secluded area, we sit down in the bench.

"I know you're wondering why I asked you here." I wonder what gave him that idea. "I want to talk to you about Lacey."

"What about her?"

"Do you love her?"

"With all my heart."

"Does she know?"

"Not yet, but I planned on telling her tonight. Why do you want to know?"

"Well, she's like my daughter, and I only want what's best for her."

"You don't think that's me?"

"How'd you guess?"

"Well you haven't exactly been discrete about how you felt about Lacey and me being together. Plus, you haven't talked to either of us in a few months. You bring me out here to ask questions about her. It's not exactly hard to figure out how you feel."

"I guess not."

"So why exactly am I here? Why did you want to talk to me about Lacey?"

"She deserves better."

He doesn't hold back, does he? "What?"

"She deserves better. She deserves someone who will be able to support her no matter what."

"You don't think I can?"

"I don't. I know you do part time work at the label. I also know that you play with a band when you're given the chance to do so. Lacey needs somebody with stability. Playing with a band isn't necessarily a perfect job to support somebody with. There no guarantee that your band will survive. Even if it does, Lacey needs someone who she'll be able to see everyday. Not someone that just comes home every now and then. Lacey deserves somebody who has a full time job. Somebody who knows they'll always have a place to work. Do you see where I'm going with this?"

"Yeah. You don't want me to marry Lacey."

"Exactly."

"But why? I mean is it not enough that I love her?"

"For me, no. I want Lacey to have the best life possible. If she marries you, she won't have that."

"So you're saying I have to break it off with Lacey?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

I get up off the bench and start back the way I came. I should have known he didn't want to know how we were doing. I should have seen this coming. The sad thing about it, though, is he's right. Lacey deserves better than me. I can't give her everything she needs or wants. I have to let her go.

I call work to let them know I won't be coming back in. There's no way I can concentrate on work when I'm thinking of ways to tell the woman I love that I can't marry her.

I drive to our spot. It's going to hurt like hell telling Lacey we won't be able to be together. I honestly do t know how I'll go on living. I do know that I won't be able to love anyone else. She's the only who will own my heart. I'd rather die alone than have to spend my life with someone I don't love.

I get in my car and head back towards the house. I really don't know how I'm going to live here without her. There's so many memories. I might just offer to let her stay here. I doubt it'll be easier for either of us, though.

I keep going over what I'm going to say in my head. I haven't even told her yet, but I already feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest. I really wish I didn't have to do this. Since I love her, I'm going to have to let her go. She really deserves the best, and that's not me. I just want her to have the life she oh so needs and deserves. I just hope she doesn't hate me after this.