Page 38 of Broken Promises

I couldn’t help the small laugh that filled the room. I found myself pacing around, nervous to say the words out loud. Sometimes, they still didn’t feel real in the first place—perhaps that was partially the issue.

“Well, I suppose that’s right…to some extent.”

“Oh. My. God. It’s Luke, isn’t it? You two got back together, haven’t you? Girl, I need to hear everything! Spare no detail. Oh, God. I will have to fly down to you to meet him officially and give him a piece of my mind. If he hurts you again…” She trailed off. The smile on my face widened. I truly appreciated her enthusiasm. It meant more than she’d ever know.

“It is Luke. But we’re taking things slow and trying to see where it will take us…”

“Okay…” Sailor dragged the word out as if more things were on her mind. “Well, did you discuss how all of it will work? I mean, if things are great, I’m guessing he’s going to come to Seattle with you and?—”

“It’s not that simple. He took over his dad’s company when his dad retired. So, he has a lot to do around here,” I explained, nervously fidgeting with the edge of my apron. Now that I was saying it aloud, I saw how ridiculous we were not discussing that aspect of our lives. It was a one-way ticket to more pain that neither of us wanted to experience.

“I see,” Sailor responded, though some uncertainty still laced her tone. “Well, as long as you know what you’re doing, you know I support you, girl. I just don’t want you to get hurt. But with that said…I just need to know if you’ve already done the deed.”

“Sailor…”

“Oh my God! You did it! You did it, and you didn’t call me to let me know!” she screeched on the other side of the line, though it was all in a teasing tone. “Seriously, Luce, what kind of a friendare you if you’re not letting me live vicariously through you? Tell me everything!”

My cheek reddened, burning from her question. “It was fantastic. He’s…amazing. I didn’t even know orgasms like that were possible. That’s all the information I’m giving you for now.”

“Ah, thank you. That’s all I needed to know—that you’re well taken care of. I, unfortunately, have an admission of my own, Luce.” Her tone now grew more serious. I froze at it. It wasn’t often that Sailor spoke in that tone, so it must have been something bad.

“What is it? Is everything okay? Are you?—”

“Everything’s okay, Luce. I…I went to get your things a little while ago. I wanted to call you to tell you all about it, but I was embarrassed, I guess. With how I handled all of it. I got there, and I barely held back the urge to punch Jason in the throat. Seriously, he’s quite possibly the worst person ever to exist. Your things were packed, but some of them were missing. And I wasn’t about to let that asshole have a single thing of yours that didn’t belong to him,” Sailor spoke so quickly she barely had the time to breathe. It often happened when she was nervous, which mademenervous.

“Sailor, breathe. Whatever happened—it’s okay. You’ve done everything?—”

“I fucked up, Lucy. I really did. I lost my temper when I figured out he’s purposely keeping some of your things so he’d have the excuse to invite you over when you return to Seattle. Seriously, what kind of a person does that? Anyway, I told him that I’m not letting him keep your shit when you don’t know when you’re going to come back because your mom is still recovering…and that triggered some shitty plan in his mind to win you over. He broke up with Sarah, apparently. I’m not surprised. I’m shocked anyone wanted to put up with his shit in the first place. Anyway, I’m so sorry…”

“Sailor,” I said as my shoulders relaxed. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected. His plan had come through, and it didn’t affect me in the slightest. In fact, it only made me more thankful that I had Luke by my side. “He planned to send me flowers. Actually, he ordered them from my mom’s flower shop, so I had to make them myself.” I rolled my eyes. “They came with a note I didn’t even want to read. No notes and no flowers can make up for what he did. I’m going to toss the note and bring the flowers to one of our elderly neighbors who will love them.”

Sailor still sounded unsure over the phone. “So…everything’s okay?”

I smiled. “Everything’s okay. You don’t have anything to worry about. You’ve done more for me than any other friend I’ve ever had has. Even if you did do something, I’d never hold it against you. But you didn’t. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me more than you know.” A slight sniffle echoed on the other side. My own eyes started welling up, too. “Don’t tell me you’re crying.”

“I’m not. I’m not. I,uh,I’ve just got something in my eye. Nothing to worry about.” Silence. “And I miss you. This is the longest we’ve been apart since we met, you know. And I didn’t even get to punch Jason or light him on fire.”

Now, both of us laughed. In fact, we laughed until my stomach hurt. Even if I kept myself busy for the most part, I felt the ache, too. I missed her as well. She was the best friend I had ever had, and she stood by me through everything.

“Well, I can’t help you with a missed opportunity with Jason, but…whenever you’d like, you’re more than welcome to visit. My mom’s in the guest room downstairs, so you’d be getting her room for yourself…”

Sailor squealed. “Stop. The queen’s room all for me? Sign me up right now.” She chuckled. At that moment, we weren’t separated by miles of distance. We were beside each other, justlike in the good old times. “I need to figure out work, but I may take you up on that offer, you know.”

“I hope you will. We’d love to have you here.”

Port-Cartier offered a lot for both familiar and first-time visitors, and I was beginning to see that all over again.

luke

. . .

There weren’tmany things I disliked—aside from the ones most people frowned upon—but karaoke had to be at the top of that list. And I already knew it was what made it so appealing to Luce. I leaned against my truck as I waited for her in front of her home, and my mind suddenly flooded with images of the past.

How often had I come here when we were teenagers, waiting for her before our date? Back then, I came to pick her up in my shitty used car that broke down more often than it drove properly. Still, it never let me down for our dates. And surely, at least a few of them were karaoke dates.

I couldn’t have said no to her then, and apparently, I couldn’t say no to her now, either.

My gaze washed over her as the front door opened and Luce exited. She wore a flowy, knee-length dress. The dark red fabric complimented her skin beautifully, and her hair was let down—just how I liked it. Her curls were one of my favorite features, and it made me happy to see them in all their glory.

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