Page 93 of Promise Me

“Where is everyone?” I ask.

“I’m not sure.”

I glance up at the door that leads to the bar and notice that the little glass square that gives you a view of the room is dark.

“Are you closed?”

“I’m not sure.”

I stop and jerk him back to stop with me. This is his bar. There is no way he doesn't know what’s happening.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

Instead of answering, he just chuckles.

“Trust me on this.”

That’s all he says. One simple sentence that speaks volumes. I know he’s up to something and he knows I know, but instead of arguing, he just wants me to trust him.

The crazy thing is, I trust him with my entire heart.

I nod. “Okay.”

It happens again. That moment where we just stand staring at each other. A perfect kiss moment. Our day has been full of them.

What the hell is this man waiting for?

Of course, he’s the one to break the spell once again. He turns to push the door open, dropping my hand and stepping back for me to go first.

Instead of pausing to demand he tell me why he won’t just kiss me when I know he wants to, I let his hand settle on the small of my back as we step through the door.

“Hudson?” I whisper after we step into darkness. There is a little light from the front windows, but someone has pulled all the shades to create a blackout on the inside.

“Surprise!” various voices cheer as the lights flicker on. The entire room comes into view filled with my friends, family, and a few other Lovers locals.

Brooke claps and jumps as she grins at me, and my dad holds up a glass I assume has some kind of ale inside.

“Happy birthday,” Hudson leans down to whisper in my ear. “I know it’s not till next weekend, but I had an opening that meant you were gone most of the day, so I took it.” The warmth of hisbreath skirts around my neck and sends goosebumps all over my body. The sensation of him being so close hits me right between the legs, and although I am over the moon with joy right now, I would kill to turn around and pull this man back through that empty kitchen and up to his apartment, where we can be alone.

“It’s about time you two got here,” Linc says, sauntering toward us with two beers. He hands one to Hudson and one to me. “Don’t overdo it.”

I roll my eyes but don’t have a chance to argue before Hudson playfully shoves his shoulder.

“Back off the birthday girl, all right. It’s her night to do whatever she pleases.”

“Yeah, but?—”

“No,” Hudson says in return for my brother’s pathetic rejection. “It’s. Her. Night.”

Technically, my birthday isn’t until next week, but I’ll take this.

Linc narrows his gaze at the man behind me, but I love having someone in my corner for once. Hudson has been there since my accident, and it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere anytime soon.

“Oh my gosh, can we tell her what’s happening now?” Brooke asks, interrupting whatever my brother is trying to convey to Hudson with just a look.

“Yes, please. I swear I’ve been looking forward to this moment since Hudson brought it up last week, and the fact he moved it up a week is even better,” Betty says.

Last week?

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