Page 37 of Promise Me Never

“I came into town to pick up groceries for the week since the Harts are going to be out of town. Thought I’d stop by and check in on you.” And pry for details about your date.

She narrows her eyes at me while she takes a sip of her coffee. “Any other reasons?”

“No.” I set my coffee cup down and flip my hat backwards so I can see her better. “Can’t a guy just swing by with coffee and check in on his baby sister?”

She laughs. “Not you, but I am glad you stopped by, thanks for the coffee by the way.”

“Anytime. What’s up?”

“Is it possible to steal Eli away for a night this week?”

“For in town?”

She looks off to the left, her tell ever since she was a kid. “No. A little overnight trip to Denver.”

“Denver?”

“Yep.”

“For what?”

“I have a date. Figured I’d ask him to make it a double date. For safety.”

“No, to both of you.”

Her lips flatten into a line. “I don’t need your permission. Neither does Eli.”

“A decent man would come to you.”

“Oh, shut up.” She spins as the toast pops up. “I’m going with or without her.”

Over my dead body is she going alone. “I’ll figure something out.”

“Really?” She turns in surprise.

“Yeah.” I grab the toast of her hand and take a bite. “Thanks, this hits the spot.”

“You’re such an asshole.” She shakes her head and puts more bread in the toaster.

“I love you, too.” I hold my arm out and wait for her to give me a hug. If there’s one thing I’ll never take for granted, it’s telling and showing the people I love how much I love them. When you lose two of the three most important people in your life within a few years, you never take that shit for granted.

She wraps her arms around me in a tight squeeze. “Thanks for working time out for Eli.”

“No problem. I need to get going, so I’m back before Paul and Jo leave.”

“Have a good day. Don’t forget dinner with Linda Sunday,” she yells as the door closes behind me.

I wasn’t lying about needing to stop by the store. I want to make sure there’s enough food for me and Eli for the week. Because there’s a good chance once we cross that line, we won’t be stopping until she goes back to school. We’ll talk more over dinner tonight, though.

Sam’s already at work by the time I pull in, so I stop and tell him to jump in the truck and help me unload my groceries.

“Mornin’, boss.” He flicks the brim of his hat and smirks, knowing I hate when he calls me boss.

“I need a favor,” I say as I put the truck in park behind my cabin.

“Anything,” he replies automatically.

“Can you go into Denver with Janey this week?”

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