Page 34 of My Promise To Keep

‘I…Leo…I don’t…’

‘Nah, I’m going to make this real simple for you. We do this, me and you — we see what this can be, or I go to Seattle. Your call.’

‘Leo, that’s not fair. You can’t expect… I need time to think.’

‘You’ve had a decade to think. I’ve had double that.’What?‘Clock’s ticking, Zo.’

He froze, gazing at me for a moment before he dropped his hands and took a breath. I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he processed his thoughts and then nodded his head.

‘Munch.’ I looked up at him and watched as he walked toward me, leaning down to press a kiss to my head. ‘I’m going to Seattle.’

And as he walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind him, I knew I’d fucked up, but there was nothing I could do to fix it. So, I walked away.

And How Does It Fit?

Leo

Twelve Months Ago

I turned the glassin my hand on the table. I didn’t want to be there.

I was sitting in a busy restaurant on a Friday night, surrounded by couples and hating every second. I lifted the glass, the ice clinking against the side as the cool amber liquid touched my lips, and I froze.

Glancing up, my eyes locked on a woman I hadn’t seen in way too long, a woman I’d missed like crazy.

Zoe.

God, she looked beautiful. She hadn’t seen me, and I didn’t think I wanted her to. If she saw me, we’d be drawn together as we always were, and then I’d have to tell her I was here waiting for somebody, a woman, and she’d probably tell me she was here to meet a man. It would be awkward, and it would be a kick in the balls.

At what point did it become pathetic that you couldn’t tell the love of your life she was the love of your life? I mean, I was decades into this thing and had still never really told her how I felt.

I watched as she reached up to push her mint green hair behind her ear. She looked nervous. This mother fucker better not stand her up.

She glanced back toward the door and chewed her bottom lip, then picked up her phone to check the time or for messages. I didn’t know, but I no longer gave a fuck about her seeing me. I couldn’t sit there seeing her looking anxious and not try to soothe her.

Standing from my booth at the back of the restaurant, I started in her direction and found myself at her table in a matter of seconds.

When she turned her caramel eyes up to me, I watched as they widened in surprise.

‘Leo.’ She smiled and stood, and I wrapped her up in my arms. Always so easy with her.

‘Hey, munch.’

‘What are you doing here?’

I released her, and she stepped back.

‘Same as you, I expect.’

She swallowed hard and folded her arms, a defensive move that I hated because Zoe and her heart would never be safer with anyone than they were with me.

‘You’re on a date?’ Her voice was tight, not enough that anyone who didn’t know her as well as I did would notice, but I noticed it. ‘I thought you didn’t date.’

‘I don’t, usually,’ I admitted. ‘I guess I thought I’d try it on for size.’

‘And how does it fit?’

‘Well,’ I glanced toward the door, ‘she ain’t here yet.’

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