Page 53 of My Promise To Keep

‘What? They did?’

‘Yeah, but they agreed to just go to the courthouse and get it done quietly. Lucy thinks they’re too old for a fuss,’ he explains.

‘What?No,’ I protest. We all love Buck and Lucy, and they deserve their day.

‘So, Buck’s throwing them a real wedding,’ Mama says excitedly, clutching her hands in front of her. ‘Lucy doesn’t know.’

I look from her to Leo, who laughs, low and slow, then nods.

‘Yeah, we’re thinking maybe Cara will let us use her place.’

‘When is it?’

‘Three weeks.’

My mouth falls open.

‘Jesus, they wait twenty years, then just dive right in, huh?’

Mama and Leo laugh. We’ve all been waiting for this day for so long.

‘Well, I should get going. Pop wants me to help him get it all set.’

He stands, then leans down to kiss Mama’s cheek before walking toward me and leaning in to kiss mine. My heart pounds, and my eyes close as his proximity affects me.

‘See you later, munch.’

He steps away, and I inhale deeply before opening my eyes and turning to look at him.

‘Leo,’ I call. He stops and looks back. ‘You’ll let me know if you need anything. For the wedding, I mean.’ I hear the shake in my voice, and I feel the racing of my heart.

He smiles. ‘Sure I will.’

And then he’s gone. I turn back to find Mama clearing the table with a smirk on her face.

‘What are you smiling at?’

‘Nothin’’

‘Lynnette Campbell, you reek of mischief. What’s going on?’

‘Zoe, sweetheart.’ She straightens and looks me dead in the eye. ‘If you want to keep secrets, you need to work on your poker face.’

Fuck.

Get Her On Board

Leo

‘I’m so fuckin’ badat this.’ I laugh as I reel in a big fat nothing, yet again. Fishing is not my thing, but Doug likes to get all outdoorsy from time to time, and my staying in town to plan the wedding means I get dragged along.

‘Yeah, but you’re pretty, so we keep you around.’ Doug snickers.

This feels good, being back in town. It’s been so long since I’ve had the opportunity to be here for an extended period likethis. I love my life in the city. I love my shop, but I love Forest Falls, and I love my people. Right now, more than usual, I really fucking love my dad and Lucy; without knowing it, they helped me get my plan together.

When I showed up at the barbecue, my only plan was to play it cool, not make a beeline for Zoe but stay back and remind her how well we all fit together — me with her family, her with mine. I hadn’t accounted for the goddam white sundress she was wearing, her tattoos beautifully on show, and that lilac hair I’ve been obsessing over, hanging in waves to her shoulders. She was beautiful, and I almost choked on my own damn tongue the second I saw her.

I needed to figure out a way to insert myself back into her life without it being obvious and putting pressure on her, and then my pops made it all so easy. When he told me they’d decided to finally go and get married, I knew it would give me the chance to spend more time in town, more time with munch, showing her how good we could be.

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