Page 13 of Promise Me

Then again, expanding my apartment could be another project that distracts me for a few more months.

My leg is a little sore once I make it to the top of the stairs, but I ignore it.

It’s a reminder of how life doesn’t always go the way you want it to and how you can bust your ass for years and years and still end up with nothing.

It’s a reminder that I need a huge fucking distraction.

I need that space.

I’m aware that it’s selfish of me to want this simply because I’m not happy with where my life currently stands. However, I also know the locals would love my idea.

Fuck.

I drop onto my couch and stretch out my leg.

Not sixty seconds later, my door is bursting open.

“I knew he was up here.”

“I didn’t say you were wrong. He’s just a creature of habit, so I assumed he’d be in the bar.”

My younger twin brothers, Luca and Miles, walk in as if they live here.

They don’t.

“Please, come in,” I say with heavy sarcasm.

I love my brothers, so I’m not really bothered, but a few minutes to think to myself would have been nice. Now, if it were our little sister, Ruby, barging in here, I’d be swooping her into a hug. Then, I’d be pushing her to the side to get time with my nephew, Max. He’s almost six, and I wish like hell that she lived in Lovers with us, especially in moments like this one.

Miles and Luca chose to stay in Lovers from day one, and although they feel bad for me, they aren’t shy about showing how much they love that I’m back.

Hence why the two of them just barge in whenever they want.

Honestly, between them, our dad, and Linc, I got pretty damn lucky with the people in my life.

Hockey was my life, and the friendships on our team ran deep, but once I was out, their life continued down that path, and mine didn’t. I don’t have anything in common with them anymore.

Each brother flops down on either side of me.

“What did Mrs. Whittaker say?” Luca asks.

“She said yes, duh,” Miles adds. “She loves Huddy.”

I roll my eyes and sigh at the nickname Ruby gave me when she was five.

“Sadie Collins wants it, too, and she showed up when I went to talk to Mrs. Whittaker.”

Neither of them says a word. They both just erupt into laughter. Luca laughs so hard he slaps his knee.

“This ought to be good.”

“It’s not. Not even close. We fought the entire time, and now, if we want Mrs. Whittaker to sell to either of us, we have to become friends and pick who should get it.”

“So, basically, neither of you will get it?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“What’s the plan? How can we help?”

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