Page 65 of Promise Me Never

“This is so beautiful,” an unfamiliar voice says.

“I know. I stood in the kitchen looking out the window for like an hour this morning just in awe,” Eli says.

Just as I look up, they look down and see me. I raise a hand in greeting, pulling a smile from Eli. They start down the wooden steps.

“Luke, this is Amber.” Eli comes to a halt beside me. “Amber, Luke.”

Amber pushes her sunglasses up to the top of her head so she can look me in the eyes. I feel every bit of her appraisal, waiting to see if I’ll get the stamp of approval for her best friend. I know that Amber knows about us and that she knows to keep it a secret. She holds her hand out.

“Nice to finally meet you, Luke.” Her grip is firm and self-assured.

“You, too. Eli talks about you all the time.”

“Same.” Her brown eyes flit from me to Eli and back again.

“Hopefully good things.” I give her my most charming smile.

“Mostly.” She gives a bit of shrug, not giving a single thing away.

“Sam and Colt were upstairs waiting for you to wake up. They’re getting steaks ready to grill.” Eli breaks the tension with her words. “I was just giving Amber a tour.”

My eyes dip to her lips, and I so badly want to kiss her. A second pulses between us, then another, but the sound of the door opening followed by their voices serves as a bucket of water over my head. I give her a slight nod and take the stairs two at time to get up on the deck to help them start dinner.

Twenty-Five

ELI

* * *

“How’s the internship going?” I ask Amber as we lay on my bed scrolling through social media.

“It’s okay. Definitely not what I want to do after I graduate.” She sets her phone down and looks out the window. “Do you think I will make it in law school?”

“Yes,” I answer her with no hesitation. “And you would make a phenomenal attorney.”

She’s so smart but lets her brother get in her head all the time. The private equity firm her dad owns is growing exponentially, and he’s made it clear that he wants them both working there after they graduate. He’s even taken a keen interest in my academics and career path, going so far as to offer me a position upon completion of my MBA. I can’t tell if that offer is truly based on my merit or because he believes it will help convince Amber to join him.

From the moment I met her though, she’s been interested in family law. She puts up this facade of being a rich party girl, but deep down she’s the most empathic person I’ve ever met. It’s probably why I immediately gravitated toward her. I’m always seeking out what my parents didn’t give me in others.

“I love you.” She laughs when Charlie jumps on the bed. “And you.” She gives her a bunch of scratches behind the ear. “I can’t wait until we’re all reunited again.”

“I know. Have you heard back about any of the apartments yet?”

“No, but a few of them have said we should know by this weekend.”

“I hope we get one.”

“We will for sure. I’ve already started decorating several of them with Pinterest boards. I’ll add you so we can collaborate.”

I laugh. “You can make all the choices. You have a much better style.”

“But it’sourapartment, so it can’t just be my aesthetic. Your fingerprint needs to be on it, too.”

“You’ll be the one paying for most of the common area furnishings. It should be your choice.”

“Oh, who gives a fuck about money?” She throws her hands up, always annoyed when I get worried. It’s hard for her to wrap her mind around money being something that causes anxiety. “Honestly, it’s not even mine. It's Dad’s money, and he loves you. He’d gladly help you in any way but definitely financially.”

“I know.” I shake my head and look away. “I wouldn’t ask him though.”

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