Page 10 of No Broken Promises

Lucy's is the best bar in town. Calling it a bar isn’t doing it any justice, though. It is so much more than that. During the day it serves as a diner; in the afternoon the bar opens and it becomes more of a restaurant. Then after the rest of Birch closes, it becomes the place to be for everyone looking to have a good time. I’ve managed Lucy’s since Nate decided he wanted to retire a few years ago.

I'd even been able to bring Nox with me before he started school. Now, he just gets off the bus at Lucy's and goes to the office to do his homework. Admittedly, there isn't much since he's just started kindergarten this year, but still.

“No. I'm taking the day off.”

Linc nods, understanding perfectly, like he always does.

“That sounds good. I might stop by with dinner, if you want me to.”

“No, thanks.” I shake my head. “I think we're fine. I'm gonna?—”

“Uncle Linc!” Nox shouts across the room, having just realized that Linc is in the house. He's been so distracted by having his Gigi with him that he doesn't even care who else is there. “Guess what we're going to do tonight?”

Linc raises an eyebrow at me, but I keep my mouth shut. I actually look at Nox and shake my head, but there isn't any stopping him from blabbing.

“I'm sorry,” I manage to whisper.

Right before Nox storms over and stares up at his uncle expectantly. With a laugh, Linc picks up Nox and holds him in his arms. For a second, I imagine that's what Danny would have looked like with his son, and I have to turn away.

When I do, I see the bittersweet expression on Rose's face, too.

“We're going with Auntie Kenny to go pick out her wedding dress.”

“Oh that's… Wait, what?” Linc turns white as a sheet. Paler than I've ever seen him before, and I've known him since we were Nox's age. “What are you doing with Kennedy tonight, Parker?”

Nox starts to giggle, not understanding exactly what is happening around him, and Linc sets him down gently. Then he turns his full attention back on me and repeats his question.

“You heard him,” I say briskly. Really, I don't want to start any shit between Linc and Kennedy, but I am not about to lie to the only brother that I've ever known. “Kennedy is getting married to that guy she’s been seeing.” The pain in Linc’s face catches me off guard, but I guess it shouldn't have. He loves Kennedy. He always has. Even when we were younger, dumber, and more likely to make mistakes. He’s always watched her, known every move she makes.

“Kennedy's not getting married.” Linc's voice drops a decibel, almost becoming a growl. “It's not happening.”

“It's happening,” I tell him as carefully as I can. “Look, it's not my place to tell you. And Nox didn't know it's not something he should have said. But before you fly off the handle, remember what you told me after Danny's funeral.”

The look in his eyes tells me that he remembers, and just like me, he will never forget that day.

My black dress caught in the door and almost tore from ass to knee, but Linc helped me escape. After all, I'd been fleeing from the hall before anyone could catch me and offer their condolences. At seven months pregnant, it wasn’t easy to waddle.

“I'm sorry,” I finally said to him.

We stared at each other for a long time before his eyes moved to my stomach.

“I'm the one who should be sorry,” he whispered. “I should have volunteered to take his place. I should have gone instead of him.”

I slapped Linc across the face and couldn't even blame it on the hormones.

“Shut the fuck up, Lincoln Hayes!” I snapped at him, standing there in his dress blues, with haunted eyes that reminded me of Danny. “You don't get to do that. To say that. Never say that again. Danny would punch you in the face for it. Hell, your mother would tear your heart out of your chest for even suggesting it.” I poked him, hard, and he didn't bother trying to stop me. He just stared at me with empty eyes.

“You're going to mourn him. Everyone in this godforsaken town will. And then you're going to put a ring on Kennedy's finger, and you're going to marry her.”

“No, I'm not,” Linc said, his voice ringing clearly in the open hall around us. “I'm deploying again. I shouldn't have even come home for the funeral.”

“You're a coward, Lincoln Hayes.”

His eyes, which had been on my stomach that entire time, flew back to meet mine.

“You're right. I am. But I'm not going to put Kennedy through the same pain you're going through. Remy has the right idea here.”

With that, he walked away, and I didn't see him again until he came home for good.

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