Page 36 of Broken Promises

She continued babbling over the phone, “I don’t understand why I can’t come to help. I’d sit next to you and instruct you with creating?—”

“You can’t come over and help because the doctor told you so. You have a long road to recovery ahead of you, Mom. We don’t want it to be any longer than it has to be, do we?” On the other side of the line, she sighed. “Look, I know this is hard for you. But I spent all of my high school years here with you, and I need you to trust me that I remember a thing or two.”

“I trust you, pumpkin,” my mom responded. Now, there was a little bit of defeat in her tone. “I just don’t like being away from my store. You and that store are my life, you know.”

I smiled, even if a slight burn was present behind my eyes. She risked everything—both to open up this store and to raise me as a single mom who worked hard. I wanted this to be my way of paying back a fraction of everything she’s done for me.

The bell over the door rang, dragging my attention away from our phone call. “I know, Mom. And I promise I’m doing my best to implement the changes that are going to help you run this place smoother than ever.”

My mom sighed. “Well, I suppose I do see how it will be simpler once all the hard work is done…” As she hangs up, I approach an elderly woman in a bright orange tracksuit. It was impossible to mistake her for anyone else, even after a decade had passed since the last time I saw her.

“Mrs. Fairmont! How are you?” I asked, straightening the apron with all my tools. A smile spread over my lips. Mrs. Fairmont was a part of many of my favorite high school memories.

“Lucy! I heard you were back. I can’t believe it.” She smiled in return. “Tell me, how’s my favorite student?”

“I’m good,” I laughed as she approached me. She didn’t care about the messy apron, nor did she care that we hadn’t seen each other in ten years as she pulled me into a hug. I returned it. “Although, I’m sure you’ve had other favorite students since you taught me in high school.”

“Pssh,” Mrs. Fairmont countered. “Haven’t you heard? I’m teaching in elementary school now. We have a shortage of teachers here, so I transferred to help out.” When she stepped back, her hand remained in my arms as she took a good look at me. “I’m glad you’re back. God knows your mother is happy. Especially now that she’s home bound. And I’ve never seen that boy Luke happier. He’s been lonely that one.” My stomach did a flop at that. With our decision to start seeing each other again happening so suddenly, we still didn’t discuss many aspects. I supposed that our past was meant to stay in the past, but I couldn’t deny that some curiosity sparked in me.

“I know he was your second favorite student, Mrs. Fairmont, but you don’t need to put in a good word…He’s already earned my fondness.”

Mrs. Fairmont shook her head. “Oh, no, I’m not trying to do that. I mean it—he’s been lonely ever since you two broke up. We all noticed it.”

“You haven’t seen…Luke with anyone after we broke up?” I pried, not sure if I wanted to know the answer. I supposed it didn’t make a difference, but he did mention a masseuse girlfriend once. Was he just messing around when he said it?

“No, you both left, and he returned a few years later. He bought that house you two had always admired and has been fixing it up for years now…I think he always hoped that you would come back. If you ask anyone else in the town, I think they’ll tell you the same.” My mom and I had an unspokenagreement—ever since I left the town, Luke was one topic we wouldn’t bring up under any circumstances. I didn’t want to hear anything about him after I left because I thought it was much easier for him than for me. “Are you planning to stay here?”

“Oh, I’m not sure,” I quickly said. All of this was overwhelming. While I agreed to start dating Luke again, we hadn’t thought everything through, and I was suddenly hyper-aware of it. “I was planning to stay here for as long as I can to help my mom…”

“Well, if you do decide to stay, we need more teachers in our elementary school, and we’d be delighted to have you. The offer is there, but don’t feel pressured,” Mrs. Fairmont told me, collecting the bouquet she had ordered before leaving. I didn’t want to think about anything I had just learned, so I busied myself making bouquets for an upcoming wedding.

If there was one thing Mom was right about, it was that it was easy to get lost in her kind of work. It really brought the creative side out of me, too. One I had long forgotten but truly enjoyed.

The door rang once more sometime after Mrs. Fairmont had left. This time, my heart skipped a little as it set on Luke. He wore a simple white T-shirt with black jeans, yet he looked as effortlessly dashing as always.

“Hey,” he said as he approached me, leaning down and pressing a soft kiss against my lips. After agreeing to date him again, I supposed this was my new reality, but it wasn’t any less unfamiliar. More flutters spread through my stomach, and though I had long forgotten them, I liked the feeling.

“Hey,” I replied softly. Luke brushed a disobedient curl out of my face before placing a mint lemonade on my desk. He had me so taken aback that I hadn’t even noticed he came in bearing presents. “And thank you.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. I figured you could use the refreshment. I stopped by your mom’s today to bring over a pie my mom had made, and Eve told me you had been stuck here the entire day.”

I chuckled. “Did she also complain about being stuck inputting information into the software?”

Amusement sparked on his face as he nodded. “Of course. In fact, she spent a good fifteen minutes complaining just about that.” I took a sip of my lemonade. It was quickly growing on me, likely on the way to becoming my favorite beverage. I lifted the cup, offering some to him, but Luke shook his head. “No, that’s for you. While I wanted you to have it, I also came in with an ulterior motive…”

“We arenothaving sex in here again,” I quickly told him, though I wasn’tentirelyopposed to the idea. Luke rounded the counter and stood behind me, his hands on my back again. I closed my eyes, enjoying the firmness of his touch as he worked through the knots spread across my behind. Momentarily, I wondered if he did date someone who taught him to massage like this, but the words remained unspoken.

“With how loud and wet you were the last time, I don’t think it would take much to convince you to let me be inside you here again, but luckily for you…” Luke leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my neck. I shuddered.Damn him.He was right. “I’m not here to have sex with you. Although, I wouldn’t say no. Instead, I’m here to ask if you could join me for a family BBQ next Sunday. No pressure, though.”

I knew him well enough to know how all of this played out, even after all these years. “You’ve told your mom, haven’t you?”

Luke’s laughter filled the air, its sincerity making the rest of the world fade into insignificance. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. I had only been here for a short while, and all my defenses were already crumbling. I had promised myself tobe cautious, but I could barely think at that moment, let alone guard my heart.

“I couldn’t help it. I’m the happiest I’ve been in a long time, and she would’ve asked about a million questions in front of everyone…” His touch grew firmer, hitting all the right spots. I tipped my head back, closing my eyes. I didn’t have anything against the BBQs at their home. In fact, they were some of the more prominent memories from our relationship. Always filled with laughter, always so fun.

“I see. And you don’t think this is a little too soon?” I questioned.

Luke’s fingers stalled on my back momentarily. “If you think it is, we don’t have to?—”

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