Page 131 of Promise Me

HUDSON

“Why isn’t she coming over?”

I switch my gaze from the front window to the guys behind me. They all look away quickly.

I suppose I wasn’t really looking for an answer. I know the reason, but I was convinced that by reminding her of something she shared with me while we were together, she’d come to talk to me. Let me explain. All of it this time.

“Archer,” I call his name and then hand him the last note. I could go all day with these, but the bakery closes soon, and honestly, if she doesn’t come over after four notes, I don’t think she’s going to after five or six.

Archer grabs the note from me and walks out the door without a word.

Linc walks in from the back with some flowers and the books Sadie left at my apartment. The blueprints of ideas are on the counter. I have books, flowers, and shelves for the tropes with drink names. The only thing missing is the big windows, but I can’t give her that until she comes over here and picks out a blueprint.

Fuck.

What am I going to do if she doesn’t come over after this one?

How am I going to convince her to give me another chance?

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

SADIE

The man who got out of Luca’s truck is next.

“Hi,” he says as he eyes Brooke behind the counter.

She smiles, shakes her head, and points to me.

He walks over and holds out the note for me to take.

I grab it, but he doesn’t let go. Instead, he looks me in the eye and says, “Don’t give up on him. I did once, and I promised myself that I’d never do it again. He’s a good man, Sadie. Give him a chance to prove it.”

At that, he lets go and walks out.

My bottom lip starts to shake as tears prick my eyes.

Promise me that when your memory comes back, this is the version of me you’ll remember.

That moment with Hudson comes back to me in a rush.

I close my eyes in an attempt to not cry, but as soon as I do, a vision of his face the other day hits me.

The way heknewI remembered everything.

The way he pleaded with me not to walk away.

He told me that was his biggest fear for us, and I made his fear a reality without a second thought.

Looks like we both have things we need to say to each other.

I open the note and smile.

Old-Fashioned Enemies-to-Lovers.

I take a breath and stand.

It’s now or never.

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