Page 33 of Broken Promises

“Oh, sorry, I’ve been knee-deep in sorting out all these sticky notes and the POS system, so I didn’t realize you called.” I quickly rummaged through the endless papers to find my phone and three missed calls from him and two from my mom.

As my gaze rose again, the vision of him there flooded my stomach with a sudden wave of nostalgia.

“Mom? I’m done with school,” I called, looking around as I stepped into the flower shop. She was nowhere to be found, and the lights were dimmed, too. With a sigh, I closed the door behind me. Mom wasn’t at the front counter, which usually meant she was in the back making bouquets—but even then, she always responded when I called out for her. I stepped further into the shop.

Luke had baseball practice after school, so I grabbed a ride with Rachel. I hoped I’d see him soon. With the prom and graduation coming up, there were things we needed to figure out.

“Mom?” I called again. As I stepped into the back room, instead of my mom, I found Luke. He stood there, surrounded by a sea of flowers. My eyes practically popped out of my head at the sight—I knew he likely asked for my mom’s help, but still. How was he able to get his hands on so many flowers? In his hands was a bouquet of peonies and baby breath—my favorite. I blinked frantically, trying to chase the tears away. I could feel them coming.

There was so much to take in that I nearly missed the sign before him that read, ‘Roses are red, violets are blue, PROM would be amazing with you.’

“What are you doing here?” I asked, even if it was…more than obvious. Luke had always been kind and mindful, surprising me with gestures that every girl dreamed of. Acts of service had always been one of his main love languages, but this was a lot—even for him.

Luke didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “Will you go to prom with me?” I squealed and leaped into his arms. He quickly caught me, and I pressed my lips against his. My heart thudded inside my chest so fast it felt like it might burst with happiness.

“Of course, I’ll go to prom with you. What kind of a question is that?” There wasn’t anyone I’d even dream of going with but him. “Though all of this is slightly cheesy, I’ve got to admit.”

Luke chuckled, kissing me once more. “I needed to bring my A-game to impress my girl.”

“And you’ve managed,” I told him. Slowly, he put me back down as my mom came out with tears in her eyes. I already suspected she had something to do with this, too.

“You two are so cute.”

“Luce?” Luke called out, luring me back into the present. This town had been so full of memories that they flooded me when I least expected them. Back in Seattle, I could avoid them, but here they were inevitable. Especially in the presence of my first—and only—true love.

“Sorry,” I said as I blinked once. “I just…got distracted. What were you saying?”

“I thought I’d take you to dinner since I figured you hadn’t eaten lunch,” he pointed out, slinging his hands into his pockets. Now, it wasn’t the thoughts of the distant past that flooded me, but the memory of what we did here only days ago. His body against mine and— “So, what do you say?”

I smiled. “It’s like you know me or something.”

“Or something,” Luke repeated with a small smile. I knew we should talk about what happened, but I wasn’t sure I was ready yet. “I’ve already taken the liberty of making a reservation.”

“How do you know what I like to eat now? It’s been ten years since you were last familiar with my taste…” I trailed off. Luke closed the space between us in a few short steps. Once he stood before me, his scent hit my nostrils, intoxicating me immediately. I stalled in my movement as he towered over me, his fingers reaching for a stray strand of my hair. The movement was innocent, but it was enough to send a wave of goosebumps down my skin anyway.

“I am familiar with the taste of youagain,” he murmured, his eyes locked on mine. The intensity of his gaze made me want to look away, as did the suggestive tone of his voice, but I resisted the urge to do so. “But regarding your question…I believe your love for pasta has remained timeless, so I’m taking you to the place with the best pasta in Port-Cartier.” The smile on his lips would’ve been enough to make me agree to anything he asked of me right then.

“Are you asking me out on a date, Luke?” His lips were a breath away from mine. Half of me expected him to lean down and kiss me, but he didn’t. The tension rose higher, to the point where I suspected it was only a matter of time before we lost ourselves in it.

“Yes, I suppose I am. So, what do you say, Luce?”

The fluttering sensation in my stomach grew more prominent. I had feared opening myself to something like this for so long. What I had with Luke didn’t compare with anything I experienced with any man after him. It was all surface-level, but I convinced myself I was happy with it.

Now, the kind of intimacy and connection I craved all along was staring at me again. A part of me was hesitant to let himback in. Having my heart broken by him again would destroy me. I was sure of it. This time, now even running away from this town wouldn’t save me like it did the last time.

Yet, the softness of his gaze was all-consuming.

“I say yes,” I responded and grabbed my purse, realizing I had been silent too long. “And I have high expectations about this pasta place of yours.”

Al Dente, the restaurant Luke took me to, was newly opened in Port-Cartier and near the beach. The terrace overlooked the sea, each wave gently lulling toward us while the city lights twinkled in the water’s reflection. While most of the town’s restaurants and cafes boasted a bohemian, coastal vibe, Al Dente embraced a more rustic charm. The restaurant was different from any other in the area with its exposed brick walls, lush greenery, and wooden terrace.

Our table was near the fence, giving us much-needed privacy as we sat down. I thought I should have gone home and dressed up for the occasion, but Luke didn’t let me go another minute without getting something to eat.

“Stop it,” he said. “I can already tell what you’re thinking.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line, arcing my brow. “There’s no way you can tell what I’m thinking.” It was a thing back in the day—he could practically read my mind, but how likely was he still able to do it after all these years?

“You’re thinking about how much you wish you had changed before coming here…and I’m here to tell you that you’re the most beautiful woman in Port-Cartier, Luce.”

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