Page 2 of Where We Promise

“Jameson is Mathias King’s son. Mathias is the president of The Chaos Kings. Not sure how old you are, Penelope, but you’re likely around the same age as Jamie here.” Gene gestured at me with a nod of her head.

Jameson just stared at me like he didn’t know how to speak.

Gene shoved the kid’s shoulder lightly. “Say hello, Jamie.”

He finally looked at me but didn’t smile. I got the sense he didn’t like me, which made me feel strange. Boys seemed to be fond of me well enough from the places I had lived; they’d have crushes and leave flirtatious notes for me, but they always made it somewhat obvious if they were interested.

This guy was handsome…but he was hard to miss, while also being difficult to place, like a thread of gold fraying loose from an irreplicable garment left amongst an ocean of leather and denim.

“Jameson, say hello, stop being rude.” Gene gripped his shoulders and moved him closer to me.

He blushed again then waved. “Hi.”

Gene rolled her eyes. “He and another boy will show you around, they’re the only two in the club. Luke Holloway, he’ll be in your grade at school along with Jameson.” She kept her hand on his shoulder and made sure he was watching her. “Penelope is club now, be sure to look out for her.”

Jameson nodded, then Mom and Gene walked over to another part of the kitchen, and I was left near Jameson, who was looking at me again as if he wasn’t sure why I was there.

“You—” he started, then ducked his head. “Your mom is patching with Miles?”

I nodded. My mom had met Miles during a ride with her then boyfriend, Jay. It was a big rally of some kind, and I knew Mom wasn’t happy with Jay, or the club we were with. They were rough with their women and rarely loyal. It was the first time she’d broken down and reached out to my grandparents to see if they’d take me in for a while until she figured something else out.

Six months I had lived with them. Sat straight at the dinner table, went to church, didn’t say a word when they called my mom a whore. I stared off into space and collected wildflowers. With each one that I found, I’d make a wish. People said that’s what dandelions were for, but I hated the idea of blowing my wish to the wind. No, I kept mine tucked inside a journal.

I’d wish for my mom to come back.

I’d wish for my grandpa to stop shaking his head every time he looked at me.

I’d wish for my grandmother to stop shaming me for what I wore.

I’d wish for a permanent place to live, a big house with a willow tree in the yard.

I’d wish for a good life. One with love, happiness and hope.

Eventually my mom came for me, and we drove all the way from North Carolina to Richland, Virginia. I didn’t ask how she got away from Jay. She never told me how she was able to leave so many clubs, it was all buried under the same silence that ate up so many of our conversations. This was our new life, and I wasn’t complaining. Mom liked Miles and said he’d be good to us. I wasn’t holding my breath.

“Miles is a decent guy; he’ll treat you both good,” Jameson finally said after a few awkward silent seconds. My gaze cut to his swiftly as a tiny piece of my anxiety fluttered out.

I needed that reassurance, and he didn’t even seem to realize it.

“What grade you going into?” He walked over to the fridge, and I followed.

“Ninth…How about you?”

He handed me a chocolate pudding cup from the fridge. “Same.”

We leaned against the counter; he still seemed standoffish. Like maybe I was annoying him simply by breathing next to him.

It bugged me.

Looks wise, he was instant crush material. I was positive he had girls pining after him, but why didn’t he seem to like me?

I was about to open my mouth, probably to say something stupid to get his attention, when another kid our age walked into the kitchen.

“Oh good, there’s snacks. I’m starving.” He stopped as soon as he saw me.

He had dark brown hair that was a little long and hazel eyes. He wasn’t bad looking either, but my eyes slowly slid to Jameson. I wanted to know who this kid was to him.

Jameson gave me a wary glance before digging into the pudding cup he’d left earlier.

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