Page 42 of Broken Promises

“I thought that was a done deal kind of thing?” His brows shot up.

“I have to make you work for it—if even just a little bit.” I leaned back against my counter. “Anyway, I talked to Sailor.” Luke arched his brow, so I quickly explained, “My best friend, remember?”

He nodded. I couldn’t blame him. That aspect of my life still remained an enigma to him, but I looked forward to introducing him to the life I had built in Seattle soon. “Right.”

“And she suggested that we could do a long-distance thing for a while. I mean, I’ve been so stressed out about how this will work that I didn’t even think that was an option…” I expected to see the same relief I felt when Sailor first suggested it, but Luke’s expression didn’t yield. He didn’t even have to say it; I knew he wasn’t sold on the idea. “You don’t think that’s going to work?”

“I think…I’ll do whatever you want me to. I’m committed to this—to us. But I can’t lie and say that a long-distance relationship will be easy. It won’t. I’ve spent so many years away from you, and the thought of having to spend even a single second away from you all over again is enough to drive me insane.” He stepped forward, trailing his fingers down my arm. “And while I’m not overly fond of it and would much rather follow you to the end of the world if this is what you think is the best for us, I’ll do it. Because it’s about both of us now. I promise never to make a decision that impacts us both on my own as I did all those years ago.”

I squinted my eyes. “Who are you, and what have you done to my Luke? Had you appeared a little sooner, all of this would’ve been much simpler…”

Again, his laugh spread through the flower shop like wildfire. It was infectious. “I’m still your Luke, baby, only now, I’m more in love than ever.”

luke

. . .

With Luce’shand in mine, we headed to the weekly Sunday BBQ. It felt like I had somehow returned to the past and been given a second chance, and I had every intention of using every second of it.

Luce had suggested a long-distance relationship. I had heard many horror stories about them that I didn’t want to bring up with her, especially since she seemed so relieved when she laid the plan out for me. We were both committed to making this work, and Itriedto keep Landon’s words in my mind. I couldn’t scare her off by moving too fast or enforcing my strong wishes to always be with her. I waited for ten years…surely, I could wait a little more.

Still, one of the things I would miss was lunches like this all over again. Luce seemed particularly stiff as we stood before my parents’ home, and I couldn’t quite tell why. She looked as beautiful as ever in a white shirt and jean shorts, with her hair braided to be kept out of her face. Her knuckles whitened as she insisted on bringing in a six-pack of my family’s favorite beer.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to take that beer from you?”

“I’m sure,” she said, “I want to make a good first impression.”

Good first impression?My brows furrowed. Had I somehow entered an alternate dimension where she hadn’t met my family yet?

“What are you talking about, Luce? My family knows you, and they adore you. I thought that much was obvious from when they came to help prepare your home for your mom. Not to mention all the times you’ve been here a decade ago.”

“No, I know, it’s just…” She pressed her lips into a thin line. “It’s been a long time. I’ve changed since the last time they’ve seen me. And when they came to help, the focus was on the house and my mom. And we weren’t dating yet. Today, the focuswillprobably be on us. And I’m just…nervous.”

Though she elaborated on her train of thought, it still made little sense to me. Luce was loved by all those around her, andespeciallymy parents and brothers. Even having a passing thought that may not be the case was ridiculous.

I turned to face her, cupping her cheeks with my hands. The motion brought an odd sense of deja vu. We had stood here many times before when we were teenagers, always somehow entrapping ourselves in a meaningful conversation at my parents’ doorstep. I suppose some things never changed.

“Don’t be silly. They’ll love you as much as I love you…” The words made such a subtle appearance and slipped from my mouth so effortlessly that I didn’t even realize it until it was too late. This went against the advice Landon had given me, so I quickly did some damage control by leaning in and pressing my lips against hers, hoping the kiss would somehow make her forget that I just said ‘I love you’ in this phase of our lives.

I also hoped it would soothe my mind because she didn’t say it back.

The door flung open then, and Logan’s annoying face popped up with a cheeky grin. “You know, if you two need a room,there’s one available upstairs…” he commented jokingly as we pulled back from each other.

“No need for a room, though I do need a fridge,” Luce countered quickly, holding up the six-pack. It appeared to work like a charm because Logan instantly dragged her in, shouting.

“Mom! They’re here! And Luce brought beer!”

My mom rushed out of the kitchen with the broadest smile. Like the rest of my family, she was genuinely delighted to see Luce.

“My sweet darling girl,” she said as Luce pulled her into a tight hug. I smiled at the sight. If this didn’t convince her that my family loved her just the same, I didn’t know what would. “I’m so glad you’re back with Luke. That boy has been a mess since you two broke up”—my mom shot me a stern glance—“and that has entirely beenhisfault.”

I threw my hands up defensively to show I meant no harm. “I’m standing right here, you know.”

My dad and Landon came from the porch to greet her as well, embracing her tightly and showing how they felt about all of this.

“You’ve been missed, Luce.” Landon gave her a small pat on the back. “Mom’s right. Someone has to keep Luke on the leash a little bit…”

“Hey!” I interrupted them, only to earn a small chuckle from Luce. They could have teased me all they wanted at that moment if it meant hearing that sound again.

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