Page 57 of Promised Love

She chuckles. “Don’t worry. My husband is good at making people feel better, and I think it’s time you two talk anyway.”

“Are you going somewhere?” I ask as she tugs on the leash of the two dogs.

“The kids are having a sleepover at Rose and Zander’s. I promised them I’d bring Mystery and Tassels for breakfast.”

Vienna sprints off, and watching her lead the pets, including Mystery, who is a wolf dog, I can’t believe it’s only been a few months since she had her brain surgery. Talk about bravery.

As soon as we’re alone, Zane asks, “So, wh-where’s the wife?” But before I can reply, he adds, “How d-did we not s-see her at my wedding? Her family owns th-that place, right?”

Of course, the Teagers would have found out everything they could about Autumn.

I nod. “It was a coincidence. There was some emergency in her family, and they outsourced a wedding planner at the last minute.”

“I know all th-this, Lukas. I was t-talking to Autumn all the time, making ar-rrangements. I can’t believe you d-didn’t think about telling any of us, including me, even after knowing th-the venue of my wedding.”

“What could I have said, Zane?” I grab a fistful of my hair and tug on it, hoping the pain will dull my headache. “Meet Autumn, my wife of four years who had just turned eighteen when I married her. What would you have thought about me?”

His coffee cup halts close to his mouth, as he’s clearly taken aback by my words, and remarks, “I’d have of course as-sked questions. I’d be inter-rested in knowing how my friend who I th-thought was alone forever had s-someone—”

“Don’t sugarcoat it, Zane. Do you really think you wouldn’t have judged me if I’d have told you four years ago that at the age of thirty I married an eighteen-year-old?”

“D-did you judge me wh-when I got married to Vienna and lied to my wh-whole family about loving her?”

“That was different, Zane. You got married because you liked her already. You were both consenting adults. And most of all, there was a reason for what you did.”

“What was your r-reason, Lukas?”

“As if you don’t already know.” I raise an eyebrow. The Teagers are also close to my friends at Kings Security, even if I was the one to make the initial introductions.

“I w-want to know from my best fr-riend.”

So I tell him everything about the promise, Autumn’s first email, our plan for a divorce, and finally about last night.

“I fucking kissed her in the back seat of a car like a hormonal teenager.”

Zane stays quiet for a long time, which isn’t unusual, given he hates unnecessary talking. But today, I’d have appreciated it if he’d said something sooner. After placing his empty coffee cup on the table, he asks, “Are y-you sure about the divorce? Sh-she’s no longer eighteen.”

Why does everyone keep reminding me of that?

“It doesn’t matter, Zane. I’m still twelve years older than her. Her current age doesn’t change the fact that this relationship wasn’t by choice but by a stupid fucking promise.”

19

AUTUMN

As soon as I enter the kitchen of the inn, ready to start the day, Chiara slips in beside me. I don’t even know if she was already here or if she followed me.

“How did it go last night?” she booms, making me jump, and my headache returns.

“L-last night? What do you mean?”

How the heck does she know?

“Your meeting with Maddy? Duh.”

Her otherwise soft voice sounds like a screech to my hungover brain. Suzie places a breakfast plate for me on the counter, and as much as I don’t want to eat, I know it’s for my own good. But the noises in the kitchen are so loud. It feels like the staff is intentionally banging the pots and pans with such force that I can’t even try to forget last night.

“Can we please go talk in my office?” I grab my plate and walk out of the kitchen, then cross the, thankfully, empty lobby. I open my office door and place my food onto the coffee table before flopping onto the couch.

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