Page 9 of Keeping Promises

But I won’t create a scene, mostly since I can’t drown my sorrows in a bottle of cabernet. Ugh, why did I agree to come out to a wine bar again?

“Oh, umm.” My eyes flick back and forth between Asher and his date. This was a mistake. “It was nothing. I just wanted to say we’re all cool.” I give them a tight-lipped smile, “I’ll see ya back there,” I say before spinning around and heading back toward the table. I can feel his eyes on me as I walk away, and without a second thought, my hand goes to my stomach.Sorry, baby, not tonight.

All eyes are on me when I return to the table. Ben isn’t aware of the situation, but he must feel the concern and tension coming off everyone else because even his eyes show worry.

I give Lexi and Brynn a small shake of the head, letting them know I didn’t tell him. Their sad smiles push me over the edge I’ve been teetering on since walking away from Asher and his date. I can’t break down in front of them.I need to get out of here.

“Hey, guys, I’m not feeling so hot. I’m sorry, but I think I need to call it a night. The exhaustion is finally catching up to me.”

Lexi grabs my hand under the table and gives me a reassuring squeeze.

“You know you shouldn’t work so hard, Hadley,” Ben jokes from beside Lexi.

As I gather my things and stand, I smile. “Spoken by a true workaholic.”

He raises his glass, toasting me, because he knows it’s true. Funny—he should be toasting that he’s going to be an uncle. With quick goodbyes to all, I slip out of the bar with one last glance of Asher and his date at the bar. He doesn’t even notice me leaving because she has his full attention.

I knew the type of lifestyle he lived when I slept with him. Now it’s time to face the consequences—alone. I wonder if this is what my mother went through. Did she ever try to tell my dad but saw him and knew that maybe we were better off without him? Only we weren’t—well, I wasn’t because she left me, too. I refuse to let history repeat itself, even if that means I end up doing this alone.

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